A new format for the Allianz Hurling League was finally agreed on Tuesday evening, following weeks of protracted discussions between the county boards of the top hurling counties and the GAA Central Council.
The new format will bear two top tiers of six, with Kilkenny, Dublin, Waterford, Tipperary, Galway and Cork in Division 1A. Division 1B will host Wexford, Offaly, Limerick, Clare, Antrim and Laois.
However, to accommodate the disputing counties’ grievances, semi-finals will now take place featuring the top team in 1A against the winners of 1B, while the second and third teams in 1A also meet.
Meanwhile the top two Division 1B teams will be promoted, as well as meeting in the final to play a team in Division 1A. The Division 1B champions will play in the Division 1A semi-finals.
The dispute had threatened serious divisions between the ‘Big Eight’ counties and headquarters. This decision, rather than a capitulation by the GAA, is regarded by both sides as something of a compromise.
The original format was agreed by central council as long ago as August. However, Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny, Limerick, Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford were unhappy with the six-team Division 1A and Division 1B format.
Kilkenny, along with other counties, said that the new system would reduce the number of guaranteed inter-county fixtures, and therefore result in a loss of revenue. Meanwhile, Limerick and Wexford were aggrieved that, despite their success this year, they would remain in Division 1B.
The new system will mean that one team in Division 1A will have just five games, while the rest are guaranteed a minimum of six, with two retaining the possibility of a seventh fixture.
The new format divisions are as follows:
Division 1A: Kilkenny, Dublin, Waterford, Tipperary, Galway, Cork
Division 1B: Wexford, Offaly, Limerick, Clare, Laois, Antrim
Division 2A: Down, Carlow, Kerry, Westmeath, Wicklow, Derry
Division 2B: London, Kildare, Meath, Armagh, Mayo, Roscommon.
