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New Allianz Hurling League Structure For 2025 Ratified

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https://www.gaa.ie/hurling/news/new-allianz-hurling-league-structure-for-2025-ratified/

In 2025, the bottom two teams in Division 1A will be replaced by the top two in Division 1B. The top two counties will compete in the final as will be the case in the four lower divisions, which will also feature seven teams.

It seems to be a fair decision. Hopefully 7 will be the magic number to see the hurling league finally have a settled format. They must have tried everything else at this stage!

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7915 - 05/12/2023 19:27:11    2515648

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Replying To legendzxix:  "https://www.gaa.ie/hurling/news/new-allianz-hurling-league-structure-for-2025-ratified/

In 2025, the bottom two teams in Division 1A will be replaced by the top two in Division 1B. The top two counties will compete in the final as will be the case in the four lower divisions, which will also feature seven teams.

It seems to be a fair decision. Hopefully 7 will be the magic number to see the hurling league finally have a settled format. They must have tried everything else at this stage!"
I think it's a great format also Legendzxix. Hopefully it will make the Leagues more competitive again.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 12216 - 05/12/2023 20:20:01    2515657

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Replying To Viking66:  "
Replying To legendzxix:  "https://www.gaa.ie/hurling/news/new-allianz-hurling-league-structure-for-2025-ratified/

In 2025, the bottom two teams in Division 1A will be replaced by the top two in Division 1B. The top two counties will compete in the final as will be the case in the four lower divisions, which will also feature seven teams.

It seems to be a fair decision. Hopefully 7 will be the magic number to see the hurling league finally have a settled format. They must have tried everything else at this stage!"
I think it's a great format also Legendzxix. Hopefully it will make the Leagues more competitive again."
I think it's a great format also Legendzxix. Hopefully it will make the Leagues more competitive again.
Viking66 (Wexford)

It seems to be a good balanced format alright. I think you or one of your fellow countymen had mentioned that format previously. The 2 big counties outside of the top division will be confident of taking the top 2 promotion spots.
The second league tier will be called Division 1B. Are the remaining three divisions likely to be renamed 2, 3 and 4?
A lot to play for in the league next year. 4th placed in 1A and 1B will playoff for the 7th spot in Division 1A for 2025. The 2A finalists will be promoted to 1B. 1B will more or less have 5 McCarthy Cup teams and 2 McDonagh teams.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7915 - 05/12/2023 22:10:38    2515671

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Replying To legendzxix:  "
Replying To Viking66:  "[quote=legendzxix:  "https://www.gaa.ie/hurling/news/new-allianz-hurling-league-structure-for-2025-ratified/

In 2025, the bottom two teams in Division 1A will be replaced by the top two in Division 1B. The top two counties will compete in the final as will be the case in the four lower divisions, which will also feature seven teams.

It seems to be a fair decision. Hopefully 7 will be the magic number to see the hurling league finally have a settled format. They must have tried everything else at this stage!"
I think it's a great format also Legendzxix. Hopefully it will make the Leagues more competitive again."
I think it's a great format also Legendzxix. Hopefully it will make the Leagues more competitive again.
Viking66 (Wexford)

It seems to be a good balanced format alright. I think you or one of your fellow countymen had mentioned that format previously. The 2 big counties outside of the top division will be confident of taking the top 2 promotion spots.
The second league tier will be called Division 1B. Are the remaining three divisions likely to be renamed 2, 3 and 4?
A lot to play for in the league next year. 4th placed in 1A and 1B will playoff for the 7th spot in Division 1A for 2025. The 2A finalists will be promoted to 1B. 1B will more or less have 5 McCarthy Cup teams and 2 McDonagh teams."]Div 1B with 4 McCarthy Cup teams (11 minus 7 in 1A) and 3 McDonagh Cup teams.

omahant (USA) - Posts: 2644 - 06/12/2023 00:52:00    2515683

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Replying To legendzxix:  "
Replying To Viking66:  "[quote=legendzxix:  "https://www.gaa.ie/hurling/news/new-allianz-hurling-league-structure-for-2025-ratified/

In 2025, the bottom two teams in Division 1A will be replaced by the top two in Division 1B. The top two counties will compete in the final as will be the case in the four lower divisions, which will also feature seven teams.

It seems to be a fair decision. Hopefully 7 will be the magic number to see the hurling league finally have a settled format. They must have tried everything else at this stage!"
I think it's a great format also Legendzxix. Hopefully it will make the Leagues more competitive again."
I think it's a great format also Legendzxix. Hopefully it will make the Leagues more competitive again.
Viking66 (Wexford)

It seems to be a good balanced format alright. I think you or one of your fellow countymen had mentioned that format previously. The 2 big counties outside of the top division will be confident of taking the top 2 promotion spots.
The second league tier will be called Division 1B. Are the remaining three divisions likely to be renamed 2, 3 and 4?
A lot to play for in the league next year. 4th placed in 1A and 1B will playoff for the 7th spot in Division 1A for 2025. The 2A finalists will be promoted to 1B. 1B will more or less have 5 McCarthy Cup teams and 2 McDonagh teams."]I still think div1b should be called div2. Otherwise I think its pretty much as good a set up as you could get, for all the counties not just the top and middle tier ones. 2 up and 2 down is very important.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 12216 - 06/12/2023 09:47:58    2515702

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@ Viking66 (Wexford)

I think they will keep the Division 1B title to make it less blunt for the hurling powerhouses passing through for a year.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7915 - 06/12/2023 11:56:16    2515728

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Replying To legendzxix:  "@ Viking66 (Wexford)

I think they will keep the Division 1B title to make it less blunt for the hurling powerhouses passing through for a year."
We could have 1C as well, to give the feeling that the McDonagh teams are progressing :)

omahant (USA) - Posts: 2644 - 06/12/2023 15:29:51    2515759

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Replying To legendzxix:  "@ Viking66 (Wexford)

I think they will keep the Division 1B title to make it less blunt for the hurling powerhouses passing through for a year."
Plenty counties have won the AI from div2 or div1b. Calling it div2 doesn't make the slightest bit of difference.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 12216 - 06/12/2023 17:16:26    2515771

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Replying To omahant:  "We could have 1C as well, to give the feeling that the McDonagh teams are progressing :)"
LOL

Counties outside the top 9 can usually accept relegation.

The Division 1B of 7 will have 4 McCarthy Cup teams and 3 McDonagh teams. Miscalculation earlier by myself.

The only remaining change I would suggest in hurling is the McDonagh Cup expanding to 1 group of 8. After 7 games, 1st at home to 4th and 2nd at home to 3rd in semi-finals. The McDonagh Cup final then as a curtain raiser to an All-Ireland semi-final.
The McDonagh Cup top 2 would have to forego the preliminary quarter-finals but would gain a home McDonagh semi-finals. If the McDonagh Cup is to gain more support, home semi-finals should be sellouts.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7915 - 06/12/2023 17:31:41    2515775

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Replying To Viking66:  "Plenty counties have won the AI from div2 or div1b. Calling it div2 doesn't make the slightest bit of difference."
As I suspected anyway, they have gone with 1A, 1B, 2, 3 and 4.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7915 - 06/12/2023 21:55:50    2515795

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Replying To legendzxix:  "As I suspected anyway, they have gone with 1A, 1B, 2, 3 and 4."
Similar to football, I'd like more of a link between the NHL & SHC. As Div 1B has 4 McCarthy and 3 McDonagh teams - why not have them compete for those berths in Div 1B? Bottom 3 in 1B and top 3 in Div 2 to McDonagh KO 6 teams. Do the same down the line - with KO Cups having teams from two split divs.

omahant (USA) - Posts: 2644 - 08/12/2023 03:37:37    2515937

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Replying To omahant:  "Similar to football, I'd like more of a link between the NHL & SHC. As Div 1B has 4 McCarthy and 3 McDonagh teams - why not have them compete for those berths in Div 1B? Bottom 3 in 1B and top 3 in Div 2 to McDonagh KO 6 teams. Do the same down the line - with KO Cups having teams from two split divs."
I've thought about this a lot.

I sort of wonder could the lower level leagues be replaced by championships qualifiers and then with wider tiers for both.

Like Championship being 14,12,9 between tiers and League being 11,12,12 with 3 places up for grabs in the 1st and 2nd tiers.

The Hurling championship would be Provincials straight knockout used for seeding the 2 groups of 7 All Ireland. 10 teams and Joe McDonough/Christy Ring champions are the 11 for the following season.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4247 - 08/12/2023 15:39:26    2516030

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Replying To Whammo86:  "I've thought about this a lot.

I sort of wonder could the lower level leagues be replaced by championships qualifiers and then with wider tiers for both.

Like Championship being 14,12,9 between tiers and League being 11,12,12 with 3 places up for grabs in the 1st and 2nd tiers.

The Hurling championship would be Provincials straight knockout used for seeding the 2 groups of 7 All Ireland. 10 teams and Joe McDonough/Christy Ring champions are the 11 for the following season."
8 counties competing in the McDonagh is the way forward. The top 4 after 7 rounds into the semi-finals. 1st at home versus 4th and 2nd at home versus 3rd.
I know some counties want to retain the preliminary quarter-final but it's a bit of a gimmick. Carlow selling out for a home McDonagh semi-final against Laois should be more important. The McDonagh needs to generate bigger crowds.
Kildare and Meath have decent numbers playing hurling. Both have been switching between McDonagh and Ring for a few years. An expansion to 8 will give both an opportunity to establish themselves at McDonagh level.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7915 - 08/12/2023 21:42:14    2516074

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Replying To legendzxix:  "8 counties competing in the McDonagh is the way forward. The top 4 after 7 rounds into the semi-finals. 1st at home versus 4th and 2nd at home versus 3rd.
I know some counties want to retain the preliminary quarter-final but it's a bit of a gimmick. Carlow selling out for a home McDonagh semi-final against Laois should be more important. The McDonagh needs to generate bigger crowds.
Kildare and Meath have decent numbers playing hurling. Both have been switching between McDonagh and Ring for a few years. An expansion to 8 will give both an opportunity to establish themselves at McDonagh level."
Where do you think they are going to fit 9 rounds for the Joe Mcdonagh a ludicrous suggestion that would inevitably lead to two groups of 4 and the destruction of Hurlings most competitive competition.If it's not broke don't fix it.

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1470 - 09/12/2023 13:06:32    2516106

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Pretty much the proposal that Carlow brought to congress 10 years ago.

Passer_By (Carlow) - Posts: 511 - 09/12/2023 13:20:53    2516109

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Replying To jobber:  "Where do you think they are going to fit 9 rounds for the Joe Mcdonagh a ludicrous suggestion that would inevitably lead to two groups of 4 and the destruction of Hurlings most competitive competition.If it's not broke don't fix it."
The football championship is a Provincial championship followed by a 7 round All Ireland championship. It's absolutely doable to have a 9 round Joe McDonagh.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4247 - 09/12/2023 14:58:51    2516122

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Replying To jobber:  "Where do you think they are going to fit 9 rounds for the Joe Mcdonagh a ludicrous suggestion that would inevitably lead to two groups of 4 and the destruction of Hurlings most competitive competition.If it's not broke don't fix it."
Spot on. Sounds like change for change's sake.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 12216 - 09/12/2023 15:40:47    2516128

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Replying To jobber:  "Where do you think they are going to fit 9 rounds for the Joe Mcdonagh a ludicrous suggestion that would inevitably lead to two groups of 4 and the destruction of Hurlings most competitive competition.If it's not broke don't fix it."
Very simple. The existing 5 weekends used already. Provincial final weekend, current All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final weekend, All-Ireland quarter-final weekend and All-Ireland semi-final weekend provide the 4 extra weekends required.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7915 - 09/12/2023 18:10:12    2516136

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Replying To Whammo86:  "I've thought about this a lot.

I sort of wonder could the lower level leagues be replaced by championships qualifiers and then with wider tiers for both.

Like Championship being 14,12,9 between tiers and League being 11,12,12 with 3 places up for grabs in the 1st and 2nd tiers.

The Hurling championship would be Provincials straight knockout used for seeding the 2 groups of 7 All Ireland. 10 teams and Joe McDonough/Christy Ring champions are the 11 for the following season."
For that top hurling league 11 - I think teams that don't meet in the Provincial groups could pair up instead of the current league schedule - this way, they all play a rounded 10-match schedule.
Top 6 of 11 join two Prov Champs in AIC KO QFs, with twice-qualified Champs getting byes. Prov Finalists could still be based on the subset Prov Groups only, like now.

For football, I'd like to see the new Champions League "Swiss System" (Shara) adopted (top 16/bottom 16) - with NFL (7 games) and Prov (max 4) merged into the AIC Group Stage (3) - and streamlined to say, a 10-12 game AIC Qualifier regular season. Teams count ties and earn points for Prov KO games and play non-Prov games concurrently to complete say, 12 games. For example, Ulster Champ takes long Ulster road (4 games) and plays 8 non-Prov games - latter mostly from weaker seeded pots to offset strong Ulster ties (non-Prov opponents may need to be drawn/decided after Prov SFs, given uncertainty of Prov results).
Tier 1 top 8 of 16 to AIC QFs (or Aussie AFL top 4 double chance); with Tier 1 bottom 8 joining Tier 2 top 8 in a stronger Tailteann 16 (KO, or 8 double chance).
Tailteann SF 4 go or stay up, along with 4 highest placed from Tier 1 bottom 8.

omahant (USA) - Posts: 2644 - 10/12/2023 14:02:26    2516196

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Replying To Viking66:  "Spot on. Sounds like change for change's sake."
I don't think it'd be change for change sake.

The Joe McDonagh was a funky set up that was put in place because the Provincial groups didn't work with the 14 teams that were playing in the All Ireland before they were put in place and having 10 teams was too elitist.

Having a 2nd tier gain entry to the knockout rounds is such a stupid GAA type solution to things.

The top tier needs to be 12 teams at least. The second tier needs to be its own second tier. 5 tiers for Championship is too much for 35 teams.

It's not a bad thing for teams to play a wider range of opponents and give an opportunity to develop to weaker teams.

You get the argument about there being non dud fixtures and everyone being close to one another but that sort of dynamic only last for a short period of time as relegation and promotion and other mini gaps between teams start to emerge and you'd need to constantly realign divisions to keep those dynamics. That's been an historical issue for hurling that they do too much realigning and it's been at the expense of openness. Legend's idea is in the spirit of openness of competition which would be important for the game.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4247 - 11/12/2023 10:53:30    2516323

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