Delegates give the thumbs up to new championship plan

Date Published: {J}

STEPHEN GLENNON

THE new look Galway senior and intermediate hurling championships – as proposed by Galway Hurling Review Group – received the overwhelming support and backing of delegates at the Board’s annual convention in the Raheen Woods Hotel, Athenry last Thursday.

In the end, there was little opposition to the motion, although some clubs did express their concern regarding certain aspects of the proposal, which sees the number of teams contesting the senior grade go from 20 to 21 – so saving Kinvara from relegation.

Indeed, this was one of the few contentious issues surrounding the adoption of the new format, as Killimordaly delegate Gabriel Creaven argued that there should be a play-off between Kinvara and his club – the 2011 beaten intermediate finalists – for the remaining spot in the senior grade.

However, in anticipation of such a move, CEO of Galway GAA John Hynes said that after seeking and taking advice on the matter, the proposed amendment – seconded by David Glennon of Mullagh – had to be ruled out of order on the grounds that it was creating an extra competition that had not been legislated for under the 2011 format.

Another concern expressed by Carnmore delegate Hilda Murray regarded the number of teams – five in all – fighting relegation and she wondered, having spoken to players, if there was an opportunity for the top team in this section to re-enter the championship at some point.

Gort delegate Dermot Flaherty’s concerns also related to relegation. He said given the nature of the proposed championship structure, the first two rounds, in effect, were relegation battles in themselves. He believed this would only compound the “stress and strain” of what was already an arduous process.

In addition, another point made by the Gort delegate – and a valid one at that – was regarding the increase in the number of teams from 20 to 21. Flaherty highlighted that there was no mechanism to reduce this number – you can only relegate and promote one team per year – after its two-year term, should the proposed format not be a success.

However, by and large, the majority of delegates were in favour of it.

Kilbeacanty chairman and delegate Pat Lynch, who proposed the motion, outlined the thrust of the new structure, which will only see the intermediate champions – for example, Moycullen this year – entering the championship in round three, or the group stage. Consequently, the intermediate holders are exempt from the relegation process in their first year and, so, are guaranteed a minimum of two years in the higher echelon of Galway hurling.

Meanwhile, in the first round, the other 20 teams will play each other in an open draw format, with the 10 winners progressing to a group stage – four groups of four – and the 10 losers of the first round would then play off in a subsequent series of games.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.