Plan to reform hurling league could see five counties drop out in 2025

A presentation from the GAA’s Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) to Central Council on Saturday put forward a blueprint where some lower-tier counties would not participate in the league.

Instead, the money spent on preparations of the teams in the early months of the season would be redirected towards coaching and equipment in an effort to grow the game, increase the number of clubs and build a more sustainable future in those counties.

The proposal has been put forward after consultation with five counties – Louth, Leitrim, Longford, Cavan and Fermanagh – who have been operating at Division 3 level in recent years. All five have two or three clubs in operation.

CCCC are recommending that any county with fewer than five clubs fielding teams should participate in an expanded Lory Meagher Cup competition only in a season, with money saved then ringfenced for hurling development.

The proposal, devised from feedback from the counties themselves, is part of an overall reform package for the hurling leagues that would see the top tier switch to two groups of seven in 2025. Support for that recommendation is strong with more than 60pc of counties responding positively to it.

If seven-team divisions are accepted and the five counties in question concentrate on Lory Meagher only, it would mean two divisions of seven and two more of eight, 30 league teams overall from 2025 onwards.

Louth secretary Bob Doheny said that their playing base is too small for a sustainable hurling future and that the proposal was “worth a go” to see if they could reverse a worrying trend of player loss in the county. Doheny pointed out that there is no league in Louth and that all three clubs would be playing league hurling in other counties in 2024, St Fechin’s in Meath and Naomh Moinine and Knockbridge in Armagh.

Doheny’s counterpart in Leitrim Declan Bohan said they agree “in principle” with the proposal. Leitrim have just two clubs at present, Carrick and Glencar-Manorhamilton, who both draw players from across the county. In recent years Ballinamore and Gortletteragh have stopped fielding teams.

Bohan said a “new departure” would be welcome, mirroring the view of Doheny. “We need more clubs feeding in so it’s worth trying,” he said, adding that the county would have to see how the money would be reinvested. “If the game is to flourish it has to start at club level,” he added.

CCCC estimate that up to €1m is spent preparing and equipping the five hurling teams per year and if some of that could be set aside in an effort to grow the base locally, it would serve the game better. In its presentation, CCCC pointed out that up to 25pc of players on those county teams did not play with clubs in that county and qualified under the ‘parent’ rule.

CCCC are hoping for feedback on their proposals ahead of a December meeting which will determine the future shape of the National Hurling League.

The master fixtures plan for 2024 was approved at Central Council at the weekend with the league hurling final again being staged on the second weekend in April, a week later than the league football finals.

Once again there will be no free week between the end of the league and the start of the provincial championships. The All-Ireland club senior football semi-finals will continue to be played in the first week of January 2025.

A proposal for a black card in football not to carry over into extra-time to align with current policy on yellow and red cards was not put forward by the Standing Committee on Playing Rules.

Originally circulated in advance of the meeting, the playing rules committee redrafted a fresh proposal, after consultation, to allow for all cards to carry into extra-time.