A New Order for Hurling
Rationale:
Clubs are being deprived of their county players for most of the playing year and some of them are dieing on their feet.
Proposals:
- Replace the National League with a League Championship
- Retain the Provincial championships as stand alone competitions.
- Two weeks of every month be given for club games
How it would work:
Based on the league positions at the end of the campaign
The top 16 teams in 4 groups of 4 on a seeded basis.
Play each team twice on a home and away basis.
2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw.
One winning bonus point if you score 5 goals or more
One losing bonus point if you score 3 goals or more or lose by less than ten points.
At the end of the 6 games the top two teams in each group go through to the quarter finals. An open seeded draw for the quarter finals with group winners playing group runners up. Quarter finals would be on a 2 legged basis. The semi-finals and finals to be played in Croke Park.
The 3rd team in each group to play 2 semi-finals and a final for the Christy Ring Cup or a similar cup
The 4th team in each group play 2 semi-finals. The 2 losing teams play off with the loser being demoted the following year.
Calendar Year.
Each month from March to September the county team would have 2 games and the other two weeks would be for club games.
The county players would train with their clubs on the two club weeks. There would be no inter county training during the two club weeks. Team managers to be informed of this new arrangement when offered the job.
January/February Walsh Cup, Wateford Crystal Cup, Fitzgibbon Cup
March to May League c’ship games on 1st and 3rd Sundays
Club games on 2nd and 4th Sundays.
June/1 week in July Provincial championships
July/August Quarter finals, Semi- finals
Sept week I All –Ireland Final
Sept/Oct/ Club games plus Provincial Club championships
November All-Ireland Club semi-finals and final
Michael O’Grady
