I for one like the current league structure, but I think there should be a playoff between the 2nd bottom team in each division and the 2nd top team in the division below for promotion/relegation.
So first team promoted, bottom team relegated, and teams above and below in the respective divisions play off for promotion/relegation, either a once-off game or a home and away game.
More games, but fiercely competitive with a lot at stake.
Thoughts?

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 20/01/2017 09:39:56    1947246

Good idea! And it also gives the second bottom team in 1A another game like the top 4. The current system is the best we have had in my memory and a little tweak like this would do no harm.

ZUL10 (Clare) - Posts: 693 - 20/01/2017 17:42:08    1947409

Nope, bottom 2 down, top 2 promoted, why should the top teams have a poor league yet still more or less be safe in their division, I'd also be somebody calling for the 2 finalists in Christy Ring, Nicky Rackard and Lory Meagher to be promoted to the next grade, again this champion in a lower grade playing the lowest team in the next grade has to be stopped

riverboys (Mayo) - Posts: 1389 - 20/01/2017 20:22:31    1947447

Pinkie (Wexford)

Yeah, I think that would be an improvement on the current system. It would make the tiers less stagnant, and make every game matter more (finishing 2nd from last would no longer be good enough to avoid drop, and the battle for 2nd spot would make the lower divisions even more competitive/hard fought). Would also increase the movement between tiers, and give more teams the chance to play at higher levels.

Marlon_JD (Tipperary) - Posts: 1823 - 20/01/2017 20:52:11    1947459

thelongridge (Offaly) - Posts: 1735 - 21/01/2017 12:12:57    1947518

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 21/01/2017 16:42:37    1947570

get it on the floor for congress,we will call it rule pinkie.
i agree that the current league format is the best we have had,this will make it even more competitive.
i dont agree either that the 2nd bottom team should automatically be relegated,it is up to the team in the division below to show they are better than them.the bottom team definitely should be relegated.
dont the league of ireland soccer do this?wexford youths got relegated on this basis i think.maybe we need to re-name it rule wallace......

perfect10 (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 23/01/2017 08:56:15    1947953

the more i think about this,the more i think this has to be got onto the floor at congress next year.i am going to talk to my club rep.

perfect10 (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 20/02/2017 16:37:07    1958777

It's a farce that teams bottom of their respective divisions are not automatically relegated. They are given the relegation playoff for the sake of an extra game.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7821 - 20/02/2017 17:17:20    1958786

Hurling is about the big three, outside of them the gaa does not really care bout hurling and league structure clearly defines that logic.
Has to be two up and two down to keep things fresh.
Only hope is that cats are relegated and then all structures will change to suit, some fun next year with possible galway limerick and killkenny looking for one promotion spot.. gaa won't allow it !!!!!

tonydoranfan (Wexford) - Posts: 550 - 20/02/2017 20:53:43    1958893

county man (Limerick) - Posts: 1102 - 20/02/2017 22:00:28    1958921

Should be very simple, bottom team relegated, top team in division below promoted, the 2nd bottom team plays 2nd team in division below, end of.

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 21/02/2017 08:10:31    1958987

The last few years the winners of 2A have had to go out the week after and play the loser of the 1B play off to get promotion. You go win your division, then have to play a final to win it again...and then a week later have to play a team who has played a better standard of hurling. Only then if you win that you get promoted. Was too much for most 2A teams, think only Kerry managed to do it all by beating Antrim.

At least this year the winner of 2A final goes straight up, and loser of 1B final down. But agree that 2nd in 2A should play 5th in 1B too. Same down through the other leagues.
Makes leagues more interesting, it's an extra game for a lot of counties and overall is a fairer way of doing things.

The Real 1944 (Carlow) - Posts: 1114 - 21/02/2017 19:56:49    1959324

Westmeath were hard done by last year having won 2A and then had to play Laois to get up to 1B. They seem to have lost their way this year and are heading for relegation having lost some very good players from the panel

tarfboy (Dublin) - Posts: 27 - 21/02/2017 22:39:21    1959399

Exactly, Westmeath last year won a tough low scoring final in horrible conditions against us last year, then had to go again a week later v Laois. Injuries/suspensions etc have all gone against the 2A winners who then play maybe a team who have lost all games in 1B but have a lovely 2 week rest before the play off.
Kerry, Carlow and Westmeath I think have all lost out to Laois because of this recently. Kerry did manage to get up ahead of Antrim and have stayed up...so gap between last 3 in 1B, Offaly, Kerry & Laois & Top teams in 2A Antrim, Carlow, Westmeath & now Kildare too is minimal.

League winner going straight up is good, but def think runner up should get a shot at relegation loser from 1B. say Antrim win 2A, Offaly come down. Then Carlow/Kildare deserve a shot at Kerry/Laois for promotion.
Same should happen between 2A/2B & 2B/3A.

The likes of Meath are well good enough for 2A. Maybe Down then could play Armagh/London for a spot in 2A

The Real 1944 (Carlow) - Posts: 1114 - 21/02/2017 23:03:51    1959412

CeachtPeile (Cavan) - Posts: 96 - 21/02/2017 23:41:30    1959423

perfect10 (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 22/02/2017 08:15:48    1959452

hurlinspuds (Cork) - Posts: 1494 - 22/02/2017 08:50:18    1959464

Why is loads of movement between divisions such a bad thing? Wexford stayed up by a point on scoring difference, it means that every game and ball and score count, is that not what hurling should be about?

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 22/02/2017 13:02:19    1959547

hurlinspuds (Cork) - Posts: 1494 - 22/02/2017 13:32:41    1959561