National Hurling League 2023 Discussion

PTH2009

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_National_Hurling_League

Suppose we'll start a thread with intercounty training returning this week. Normally the Leagues should kick off last weekend of January or First weekend of February

League fixtures should be out very soon

PTH2009

Expecting the fixtures this week sometime

Think knockout stages are gone and it's only Top 1A vs Top 1B in the final

lim4ev

as far as limerick are concerned our first 2 matches are sat evening ones I like them ones

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119985550#Comment_119985550

Would have preferred an earlier time against Cork. We got the short straw in both codes too in terms of having more away than home games.

Double header for Kildare/Wexford though which seems to have not happened in ages. And the Dubs at home in football which is great.

randd1

I predict it will be a bore-fest of challenge matches, with managers chopping and changing teams from game to game, and pundits reminding us that the league doesn't really matter as it's all about the championship (while simultaneously moaning that about the lack of exposure in hurling and the short length of the season) and that teams might be better off not winning the league (citing Waterford last year), as it gears up to the provincials.

We could really do with a proper competition structure in place for hurling that makes use of the time it has and links the whole year together, this idea of basically one league after another does the sport no real service at all.

PTH2009

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120018262#Comment_120018262

In an ideal world one major competition combining both the league and Championship would be the way too go but nope not for the GAA

They want to keep tradition alive and don't want rid of the provincials

Maybe too much is been written in too Waterford winning the league and then imploding in the championship. The league might have not been the cause of it but seems to be opinion it was going too hard in the league

PTH2009

Resources will decide the winners of the league

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120020461#Comment_120020461

In what sense ?

PTH2009

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120020545#Comment_120020545

If you have a young squad and in a sort of 'rebuilding phase' the league would be a priority

I'd fancy someone like Cork or Tipp too win next year's league as they have a young enough squad to build on and instant success in terms of Munsters and All Irelands doubtful

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120021682#Comment_120021682

Ya sounds about right. I think Cork need a trophy of any sort at this stage to shake off the growing choker vibes in the county.

A fair few counties with a new manager to impress too.

billyhead

Limerick will try out new players so the league will just be testing ground. At least Cian Lynch will be back and see plenty of action to get him match fit and hardened.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120022472#Comment_120022472

I wouldn't mind Limerick at least winning a few games this year. Makes going a bit more pleasant.

Billy Ocean

Provincial round robins have downgraded the leagues in my opinion, all about peaking for those 4-5 games later in the year, i think there used to be a correlation between league and championship form but not really any more.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120023397#Comment_120023397

Yep but 2023 is what it is so we might as well talk about that.

Billy Ocean

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120023423#Comment_120023423

Yeah i expect that pattern to continue in 2023, strange comment from ya.

legendary.xix

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119960558#Comment_119960558

Same format as last year. Top 2 in each Division 1 group qualify for the semi-finals. In all other divisions, 2nd have home advantage against 3rd in the semi-finals, with the winner taking on the 1st placed team in the final.

Most of the debate will be again focussed on the two Division 1 groups format. Two divisions based on merit would bring more of an edge. Football counties have no guarantee of Division 1 status. The hurling league has removed the relegation jeopardy for the majority of the top counties. The GAA will stick with it however until supporters vote with their feet and decide to skip the snorefest.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120027942#Comment_120027942

We have already tried 2 divisions based on merit in a 2 division format and a 1A and 1B merit based format.

legendary.xix

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120028133#Comment_120028133

It was tried badly with the top 4 in both divisions going to the quarter-finals.

1A should see 2nd v 3rd in a semi-final, with the winner taking on 1st in the final. The 6th team should be relegated.

1B should see 2nd v 3rd in a semi-final, with the winner taking on 1st in the final. 1B final winner promoted. The 6th team should be relegated.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120028653#Comment_120028653

Tried an old fashioned div 1 and 2 as well with 8 teams. It was apparently too competitive and teams ranked 9 and 10 complained that they were at a disadvantage for championship.

Also hurling goes through this annoying cycle of " team 11/12 learn nothing in the lower divisions" then we reformat and suddenly "team 11/12 learn nothing getting a hiding every week" and around and around we go.

legendary.xix

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120028678#Comment_120028678

Division 1A for league teams ranked 1 to 6 and Division 1B for league teams ranked 7 to 12 is the fair solution. Let everyone earn their place on merit. The national football league has thrived on this for years.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120028739#Comment_120028739

That would be fine with me.

But it won't happen because teams ranked about 5 to 10 will kick up a fuss for all the reasons they had before.

legendary.xix

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120028834#Comment_120028834

1 to 9 are probably fine with the current setup. It's 10 to 12 who would have to push for change.

Money will be a key factor. If the current format is bringing in good crowds, the GAA will stick with it. If the lack of a competitive edge keeps supporters away, they'll be more inclined to bring in a bit of jeopardy.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120029111#Comment_120029111

Have any of the many formats ever changed the numbers attending.

Hasn't 2 x 6 been tried before in hurling or was that just football.

PeggyShippen

Think the system is fine as it is. The league is the league. I dont want a cut throat league . Its pointless with the round Robin which is excellent.

legendary.xix

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120029458#Comment_120029458

It was tried in hurling alright. Counties were fighting tooth and nail to avoid 1B, even though 1B was proven to have provided enough competitive hurling before the championship, just as Division 2 in football also provides a high level of competitive football before the championship.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120030593#Comment_120030593

No you misunderstood I mean we have tried the equal 1A and 1B before. We are basically back to a tried and failed system.

randd1

The old 1A/1B system a few years ago worked well, certainly the best of what was on offer the past 20 years anyway. I'd bring it back, but with a more cut-throat change.

Division 1A - Top team goes to League semi-final against Winner of 1B. Teams finishing 2nd and 3rd in 1A face each other in League semi-final. Bottom two teams in 1A are relegated to 1B for the next season.

Division 1B - Top team goes to League semi-final against Winner of 1A. Teams finishing 2nd and 3rd in 1A face each other in promotion playoff, with the winner promoted to 1A. The bottom team is automatically relegated to Division 2 for the next season.

A good change over of teams between 1A and 1B, serious competition for promotion/avoid relegation, 7 games max.

Do the same for Division 2 and 3, but with the obvious caveat that the winners of those divisions are promoted to the next Division.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120040473#Comment_120040473

The top 2 teams in 1B walked it and only got 1 good match maybe 2 in the knockouts.

I completely zoned out of during that time and didn't even watch Limericks games most of the time.

legendary.xix

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120040726#Comment_120040726

1A with 1 to 6 and 1B with 7 to 12 is the best balance. 1B would contain 3 of the top 9 and 3 of the rest. A fair level.

1B should have the same format as 2A. 2nd v 3rd in the semi-final. 1st v semi-final winner in the 1B final. 1B winner promoted. 6th team in 1A relegated. Just get on with game. No more tweaks required.

castletownman

During my walk with the dog earlier, I was thinking of a way to revitalise the league while also making the Provincial championships proper meaningful again.

I would get rid of all the pre-season tournaments, with the only designated GAA action for January the various club championships. Re-structure the league so it starts in mid-February like now, but where the eventual Division One champions are guaranteed a place in the semi-finals of the championship proper (Div 1A vs. 1B table-toppers play-off in the final) The Division Two champions are guaranteed a spot in the knock-outs of the same championship. League placings will potentially have a bearing in the championship too....

I would then revert the Munster and Leinster championships back to straight knock-out. Conduct the championship draws the Monday after the league final (why do we always have to do it so far in advance?), with a two-week break or whatever. The Leinster and Munster winners get the next two semi-final spots, and a back-door system to determine the last semi-finalist. If there is an odd number of teams remaining, have it seeded so the highest ranked remaining team on league position gets a bye. I know there are scenarios were a team could win the league and their province, but it should be possible to substitute one of the semi-final spots with either the league/provincial runner-up or again the highest finishing remaining team. I know the A/B split may prove complicated, but you just have to rank each team on number of points they gained in the group stage regardless of what side of the division they were on.

I personally think it would be a load of fun, and would actually widen the club calendar a bit. Sure all you hear about this time of year is "it's only the league, we are gearing for championship".

breezy1985

God I can't wait till the league actually starts and we have matches to talk about.