This was hotly debated for a year or 2 but everyone seems to have accepted it now & moved on. The quarterfinals between 1A & 1B seem to have given it added impetus but what I'm wondering is why this can't be done in Division 2 (& possibly Div. 3) also? If the Division 1 model is seen as the way forward then why isn't it applied to the lower divisions too?

Incidentally, Div 2A is the tightest division in the NHL with 4 out of 6 counties still in with a chance of making the final with one round to go.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 20/03/2015 16:02:17    1704836

Sounds like a reasonable proposal to me keeper7. Not being condescending, but I think this is a decision for those counties playing in/around these leagues to decide really isnt it?

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 20/03/2015 16:46:30    1704855

keeper7
County: Longford

Do you mean including the top teams from Division 2/3 in the primary league quarter-finals?

Marlon_JD (Tipperary) - Posts: 1823 - 20/03/2015 17:03:49    1704861

Since when do WE decide our own fate? Often the people who purport to represent our interests have no vested interest in seeing the game prospering in our counties.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 20/03/2015 17:09:47    1704864

In the lower divisions, of the 3 teams promoted last year 2 have not picked up a point so far this year. And of the 3 relegated, 2 have won all their games this year and are top of their leagues. Tyrone and Fingal in 3A are the exceptions, though Tyrone are a much better side than their 3B status last year indicated. From them stats it would look like there is a big gap between the standards in each league, and maybe the current system is most suited but is worth considering at least.

Soma (UK) - Posts: 2630 - 20/03/2015 17:16:58    1704869

I would have no qualms with anyone arguing that structure offers very little in the way of supporting so called lesser counties , theres a mountain a wall and lake to get past in order to sit at the big table .

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 20/03/2015 17:17:50    1704870

In lieu of the current elitist upper six/loer six - I'd rather have the teams ranked 1, 2, 3, 4, 11 and 12 playing the six middle teams 4 to 10.
Everyone plays six games - 3 home, 3 away - with the Top 4 from a combined 12-team table going to the NHL SFs and bottom 2 down.

Do the same for Div 2 - Div 2A Six vs Div 2B Six - Top 4 to SFs, with Finalists going up.

omahant (USA) - Posts: 3326 - 20/03/2015 17:51:37    1704882

The middle teams should state 5 to 10

omahant (USA) - Posts: 3326 - 20/03/2015 18:42:43    1704901

The hurling league structure gives us great matches each week - including at least one really good tie from the 1b division

The sad thing is - once the Championship starts, it all gets a little pedestrian. One good game every 2/3 weeks!

Ban (Westmeath) - Posts: 1479 - 20/03/2015 20:47:48    1704935

Should the league be about producing a good game a week for fans or should it be about promoting the game. Would it not be more nbenefitial for hurling to have kilkenny and tipp playing in Wexford Antrim Laois or in a rugby city like Limerick?

I would far prefer to see two groups of 6 made up of 3 x 1A teams and three 1B teams or even 2 groups of 7. I think the current structure was voted in by most of the 1A teams looking for exclsuivity, revenue and to widen the gap between themselves and the rest along with predominently football counties who thought that the current structure would be harmful to the future of hurling.

disillusiondfan (Limerick) - Posts: 4279 - 21/03/2015 08:08:57    1704952

Can't agree with that last poster. The 6 team league division is providing huge entertainment and games at near championship-level intensity. This is what teams want. Expanding it to 7 means there would be some whipping boy in each division, not obviously so in 1A but some team would probably take on that role each year. The intensity of matches would drop because the more established teams would figure they'd have an extra cushion for survival (wouldn't feel like they have to win every game which is the way they do feel now). I do feel sorry though for the team that finishes bottom of 1B. They are way too good for division 2 hurling and being relegated is a big blow to them. I would like to see a solution to this problem.

PoolSturgeon (Galway) - Posts: 2062 - 21/03/2015 09:13:48    1704957

disillusiondfan - I can see what your saying but I dont think there's much to be gained from half a Tipp/kk team turning up at a 2nd tier county and giving them a beating in the middle of winter.
Westmeath were playing against the elite last year in football's division 1 and the gloss wore off very quickly when you knew you were going to Cusack park to see another beating - I've been at better attended division 3 games when we were pushing for promotion and there's nothing going to promote a team/sport than winning. Look at the Irish ladies rugby and mens cricket teams for instance

As for the top teams voting for the current structure - thats not surprising. Division 1a is a cash cow for these teams and an important part of the balance sheet at the end of a year. Gunning for All-Irelands as proven by Tipp and Clare in recent years is not cheap

I would love to see the top counties playing each other in a team format all summer (Div 1a and most of 1b) with the top 4 going into the All-Ireland semi finals. You can run your provincial championship in parallel, like the FA cup in England. Your season starts in May and finishes in late August - a fun fair of fantastic games
The second level competition should also be very competitive, but you can package and promote it - the main thing is that counties are playing at a level they can compete in.

Ban (Westmeath) - Posts: 1479 - 21/03/2015 09:14:03    1704958

it is off topic but can anyone tell me what/ or does any club play in Nowlan park ?

MonaghanGlory (Monaghan) - Posts: 738 - 21/03/2015 13:18:17    1704984

It's the best league we have ever had, look at the games each week nothing between the teams so why would we want lob sided games saying wouldn't it be great to see KK play the weaker teams is just madness, been beaten by 30 points does nothing for a team.

therealtmo (Tipperary) - Posts: 1292 - 21/03/2015 13:31:00    1704986

MonaghanGlory As far as I know no, but O'Loughlin Gael's pitch is literally right beside it.

Fulgrim (Wexford) - Posts: 270 - 21/03/2015 14:08:26    1704987

HURLING STRUCTURS WILL NEVER BE CHANGED TO HELP THE WEAKER COUNTIES AS ALL THE POWER IS WITG THE TOP DALF DOZEN AND THEY DONT CARE ITS A CASE OF LOOKING AFTER OURSELVES

Stmunnsriver (Wexford) - Posts: 3002 - 21/03/2015 17:47:46    1705009

STmunnsriver, what structure do you think would help the weaker counties compete with the stronger ones?
In football at the moment we have calls for two tier championship, with the weaker counties bemoaning the fact that they have to compete with the stronger ones.
In hurling, we seem to have the exact opposite.
The strength of the traditional powers in hurling is to do with history, tradition, and dedication to the game among he natives of those counties, and little to do with the structure of the league.
For the record I am a big fan of the new league structure. Its nice to see teams finally take the thing seriously for a change.

joncarter (Galway) - Posts: 2692 - 21/03/2015 17:57:13    1705012

joncarter

+1

Ban (Westmeath) - Posts: 1479 - 21/03/2015 18:25:14    1705014

Thanks

MonaghanGlory (Monaghan) - Posts: 738 - 21/03/2015 18:41:13    1705016

The only problem with the league as presently structured is the glass ceiling between 1B and Div 2A.There ought to be automatic promotion from 2A. Westmeath and Carlow play tomorrow and the winner of that will be Div 2 champions. It is most unfair that the only chance they have of promotion is to beat whoever finishes bottom of 1B. Chances are Laois/Antrim will win that game cos they've been playing at a higher level all year. Div 1B needs to be expanded to 7 teams, with the bottom team in 1B automatically being relegated and the Div 2 champions automatically gaining promotion. It's the only way of dealing with this injustice.

PoolSturgeon (Galway) - Posts: 2062 - 21/03/2015 19:26:03    1705025