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McDonagh Cup Link To All-Ireland To Be Removed?

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2 groups of 4 in Leinster might suit best. Group winners into semi finals. 2nd and 3rd into quarter finals. 4th placed into relegation playoff.
Group A: Kilkenny, Wexford, Antrim, Kildare.
Group B: Galway, Dublin, Offaly, Laois.
Round 1 winners should play each other in Round 3 and ideally the top 2 seeds don't play each other in Round 1.
Most likely Kilkenny v Wexford and Galway v Dublin in Round 3 for example will be for the group win. Antrim v Kildare and Offaly v Laois in Round 3 would be for avoiding the relegation playoff and making the quarter finals.
While 3 from 4 hasn't suited football. It might suit Leinster hurling where there is the threat of relegation. The knockout rounds might attract more crowds so could suit Leinster having 3 knockout rounds.
Example quarter finals: Wexford v Offaly and Dublin v Antrim.
Example semi finals: Kilkenny v Dublin or Antrim and Galway v Wexford or Offaly.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8928 - 12/06/2025 10:43:49    2616868

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Am I alone in thinking there's too many tiers in hurling as it is?

Personally think Joe/Ring should merge as well as Nicky/Lory.

Three tiers seems reasonable. Must be tough being at the bottom in the Meagher and seeing so many tiers above you to climb.

trimmer (Meath) - Posts: 544 - 12/06/2025 11:42:13    2616892

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Replying To trimmer:  "Am I alone in thinking there's too many tiers in hurling as it is?

Personally think Joe/Ring should merge as well as Nicky/Lory.

Three tiers seems reasonable. Must be tough being at the bottom in the Meagher and seeing so many tiers above you to climb."
Seeing as those Counties have about 10 clubs between them they're not going to be rising too far.

Seanfanbocht (Roscommon) - Posts: 2406 - 12/06/2025 12:01:41    2616896

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Replying To trimmer:  "Am I alone in thinking there's too many tiers in hurling as it is?

Personally think Joe/Ring should merge as well as Nicky/Lory.

Three tiers seems reasonable. Must be tough being at the bottom in the Meagher and seeing so many tiers above you to climb."
Yes and no. There can a be a quick drop off in standard in hurling. This year's league had every block of 7 evenly balanced. Next year possibly has 8 and 9 in 1A. 6, 7, 15 and 16 in 1B and so on. That might shape if 3 lower tiers of 8 instead of 4 lower tiers of 6 should be considered.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8928 - 12/06/2025 12:26:16    2616905

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Replying To trimmer:  "Am I alone in thinking there's too many tiers in hurling as it is?

Personally think Joe/Ring should merge as well as Nicky/Lory.

Three tiers seems reasonable. Must be tough being at the bottom in the Meagher and seeing so many tiers above you to climb."
Doesn't help either when New York get parachuted in out of nowhere

Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 2389 - 12/06/2025 13:08:13    2616921

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Replying To trimmer:  "Am I alone in thinking there's too many tiers in hurling as it is?

Personally think Joe/Ring should merge as well as Nicky/Lory.

Three tiers seems reasonable. Must be tough being at the bottom in the Meagher and seeing so many tiers above you to climb."
Yes no need for four tiers. It was be difficult to get enthusiasm to play in that 4th.

Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 3108 - 12/06/2025 14:43:27    2616955

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Replying To Canuck:  "Yes no need for four tiers. It was be difficult to get enthusiasm to play in that 4th."
There are actually five tiers at the moment!

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 2942 - 13/06/2025 11:22:40    2617153

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Replying To trimmer:  "Am I alone in thinking there's too many tiers in hurling as it is?

Personally think Joe/Ring should merge as well as Nicky/Lory.

Three tiers seems reasonable. Must be tough being at the bottom in the Meagher and seeing so many tiers above you to climb."
Don't see that there is too many tiers. Doubt counties at bottom tier see it as too many more they see it as more realistic opportunities to be competitive which is a good thing. No?

KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3780 - 13/06/2025 11:36:27    2617158

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