National Hurling League 2017 Discussion

feargale wrote: »

Wicklow

they'd probably gotten away with having spears

Hugely disappointing to be in the relegation play off but it is what it is,Offaly made the most of the conditions yesterday they were very direct in the first half with a strong breeze to their backs,the sending off just before half time was a big blow to us and that probably threw whatever plans we had set for the second half out the window

We go again next week,hope we stay up

Django99 wrote: »

Should be a cracking game, Laois will be very disappointed to be in the play off having beaten Offaly and running Wexford so close.

Des Cahill says there's a play off with the winner of 2A, and I would say both Kerry and Laois would be a bit ahead of Antrim and Carlow so both should stay up. It should really be straight relegation for the loser though.

I'd even give the 2A runner up a play off against the winner of the relegation final, to give more teams the chance to play in Division 1.

That play off with the winners of 2A was ditched and rightly so,

"Another change to the Allianz Hurling League structure is the removal of the promotion/relegation play-offs. Instead there will be automatic promotion for the division winners."

http://www.gaa.ie/news/allianz-leagues-condensed-2017/

All games to be settled this weekend. No replays. Be interesting to see a shootout

Realt Dearg Sec wrote: »

So what are the actual rules of the free taking competition?

Open to correction here but think it's 5 frees each taken anywhere from the 65 line.

KevIRL wrote: »

No change to league structure for 2018

Glad to hear that even if it means Dublin will quite likely be relegated. Two 8 team divisions with 3/4 weak teams thrown in against a couple of the top teams would have been disaster. Imagine, no harm to them, Kildare playing Galway or Limerick?

http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2017/0329/863505-hurling-championship-format-under-discussion/

Hurling looking to change the structure but no specific format suggested yet. As the article says the important thing is to increase meaningful, competitive games. A super 6 probably isn't the answer, as it would make provincial finals meaningless to have both teams advance to the same stage.

Giving teams too many chances to lose would make early rounds meaningless. Not sure I could think of any good formats at the moment that would be an improvement to be honest

There's nothing to say they couldn't have the best of both worlds too, in a sense. My point is, if you look at any major competition be it the Champions League, NFL, NBA, World Cups, its always a group structure, then knockout. It satisfies all areas such as having enough games, competitiveness and as a result financial benefits. You could split the hurling championship into two or four mixed, and ranked groups, with the semi's being the two best Leinster and Munster teams competing for the provincial with the winners contesting the AI. That way the provincial title wouldn't be completely removed. It's a similar structure to the NFL in a way.

Bambi wrote: »

Realt Dearg Sec wrote: »

We all know that's going to be the basis for any simple, rational revamp. But I'll eat every stitch of clothing I own if they do it. To a near absolute certainty, whatever they come up with will be a more convoluted, illogical and contradiction filled mess than what has preceded it, and the goal of all this will be to keep tiptoeing around the provincial elephant in the room.

Does anyone in a province that is not Munster give a flying f**k about the provincial hurling set up though?

The members of the provincial councils.

letowski wrote: »

The perception in Munster is changing though, I mean attendances are sliding big time. Something will have to give, it's unsustainable and outdated.

The sweeper system isn't helping attendances. You'll have the stronger side picking away at the sweeper playing side - a very close game but a drab affair - why would fans be bothered attending that match when you can watch it on tv? There's going to be very little atmosphere or excitement watching it at the stadium.

1B relegation final sounds like a cracker, gone to extra time Kerry 4-14 Laois 1-23.