New GPA proposals for hurling championship restructure would have big impact on Kildare
The Gaelic Players Association have released a proposal to restructure the provincial championships which would see the two finalists of the Christy Ring Cup compete for a place in the opportunity to play in a new provincial qualifier group that features the top hurling sides.
There will be six teams in this qualifier group, and two of them will be sides that competed in the previous year's Christy Ring Cup final. Whether or not the losers from the previous year's Christy Ring Cup final - it was Antrim in 2017 - are still eligible to compete in that competition has not been made clear in the GPA's statement.
The most crucial aspect of the mooted restructuring that will effect Kildare is the lengthening of the Christy Ring Cup campaign from five weeks to nine, something that many players and managers involved in the competition have been crying out for.
Kildare hurling manager Joe Quaid has been staunchly critical of the format of the competition, especially after the Lilywhites lost to Carlow to put an end to their championship season all the way back on May 7.
"Our Christy Ring was over in 14 days," he said.
"Your championship is finished in 14 days; three matches in 14 days. To be fair, Carlow could have been the same if we beat them.
“It’s a joke, these guys have no hurling now in summer. They’ve trained as hard as the Kilkenny’s, Tipp’s, Limerick’s and Cork’s since last December and because the GAA want to get the Christy Ring out of the way before the proper championship starts, that’s it.”
The amendments were drafted by the GPA Competition Structure Reform Committee after an exhaustive discussion with inter-county hurlers. The GPA are satisfied that there will be no negative impact on club games while the suggestions will also promote the development of hurling in lower tiered hurling counties.
Provincial Qualifier Group suggestions:
- Two teams from the Provincial Qualifier Group progress to play the 3rd placed teams from the Leinster and Munster Round Robin (RR) Groups, providing an extra game for another county and rectifying imbalance between the Leinster and Munster RR Group.
- A six-team Provincial Qualifier Group consisting of Laois, Westmeath, Kerry, Carlow, Antrim and Meath based on 2017 results.
Christy Ring, Nicky Rackard and Lory Meagher Cup suggestions:
- Extension of season from five weeks to potentially nine weeks, for a finalist, allowing break weeks for recovery and preparation before semi-finals and final.
- Top two teams from Christy Ring and Nicky Rackard Cup round robin groups qualify for semi-finals.
- Final of Lory Meagher Cup to be played as a double-header with Leinster or Munster RR final round game.
- Finals of Christy Ring and Nicky Rackard Cups to be played as a double-header, preferably before Munster and Leinster finals or alternatively before the All-Ireland SHC quarter-finals.