Much comment has been made on the structures of the county senior hurling championship. However, prior to the Croke Park debacle, a sub-committee was already in place to review the county championship which has not produced a Munster club champion since Kilmallock in 1994.
According to sub-committee chairman Mickey O’Sullivan: “everything is on the table”.
Back in January 2006 the current format was ratified at a County Board meeting as the structures were changed for the third time in four years. That format - which introduced the divisional team - has remained unchanged for the last three seasons.
Now there is a mood for change once more.
The initial moves came from Patrickswell delegate Oliver Mann at a County Board meeting earlier in the summer when he called for a review committee to be set-up.
Mann, O’Sullivan, County Board Chairman Liam Lenihan, County Board Secretary Mike O’Riordan, John O’Brien (Claughaun) and Val Moloney (Kilmallock) now comprise the sub-committee.
This Tuesday night the sub-committee met with Divisional Board officers and next Thursday night the six-person committee will report their initial findings to a meeting of the 15 senior hurling clubs.
“We are looking at every aspect of the senior championship and everything is on the table, but primarily it is the uncertainty that people want removed,” County Board vice-chairman Mickey O’Sullivan explained.
“Not everyone appears to be against the current structure, but what is a problem is the uncertainty. Players and clubs need to know when they will be playing and that is what we are looking at, in conjunction with the inter-county fixtures.”
One topic for discussion is the involvement of the divisional sides - there have been calls for all four divisions to take part while others would favour the abolition of the inter-divisional series. What is most likely is that the current format of one divisional side playing with the 15 senior clubs will continue. However, thought is also been afforded to a reduction in the number of senior clubs.
A realignment of the current playing season seems almost certain.
“We need to start our championships very early,” said O’Sullivan.
“If we start in early April and then get down to the quarter-final stage by early May,” he explained.
The hurling championship would then break until the end of July.
Where clubs might have reservations is that April and May would co-incide with third level exams.
This realignment would also see a change to the All-County League which would take place every weekend during June and July.
Aside from the timing of the championship, a structural change also appears likely. A return to the old system of four groups of four teams is one possibility. One amendment to the system, last used in 2005, could see the introduction of a County Cup for the eight clubs not involved in the quarter-finals - this competition would also decide relegation.
“There is certainly a move for change,” accepted O’Sullivan.
The final proposals will come before a special County Board meeting at the end of the month.
Jerome O’Connell
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