‘Relegation will no longer have that stigma’

FORMER Waterford hurling manager Derek McGrath has claimed that the key to successfully reformatting the Allianz Hurling League is by ‘destigmatising’ relegation.

Three proposals have been put forward by Croke Park’s Central Competitions Control Commitee (CCCC), a return to the meritocracy of Division 1A and 1B (as applied from 2012-19), a 12-team division where not all teams would play each other and seven-team groups which would allow for two teams to be relegated/ promoted, for the 2025 competition.

While GAA chiefs are concerned that the lack of jeopardy of top teams not being threatened with relegation is one of the reasons the League has underwhelmed in recent seasons, McGrath insists a competition more developmental in nature would serve the game better.

And he believes that counties will most likely opt for the 12-team tiered league concept, where counties will play two games against teams in their own tier and four from outside their tier.

‘Relegation will no longer have that stigma that used to be when I was involved and you had the 1A and 1B format.

‘That kind of thinking has altered because the round robin Championship is the Championship and I think that is why they will go ahead with the 12 down system.

‘I have to be honest, if I was a manager I would be delighted with not necessarily the non-competitive element of it but not having the stigma attached to it around relegation.

‘When that is there, it can lead to a lack of confidence in a group ahead of the Championship, whereas if you have that comfort zone you can attack the Championship during the League, tapering your preparation for it which people have been doing over the last couple of years,’ he said.