From SportsNews Ireland - Is it April Fool's already?

[AZOffaly]

Surely Duffy's not serious about this?

GAA : Weaker Counties Have No Place In Hurling League
Written by: John O'Rior on 4th November 2010
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The GAA are believed to be planning a radical new approach to the National Hurling League in which some of the so called "weaker" counties will no longer be allowed to compete.

In order to cut the hefty costs involved in running a team, for the duration of a competition such as the league in its current format, the association plan to create regional club competitions that would see some counties exit divisions three and four, and compete in the new competitions instead. Less travelling would enable these counties to keep their running costs low and help develop the sport at a local level.

Even at division three or four level it can cost up to €100,000 a year to run a county team. GAA director-general, Paraic Duffy has already questioned the merits of weaker counties competing in the leagues as they have little to gain from such an exercise. If the new proposals are brought into place, it will be 2012 at the earliest, as the fixtures have already been confirmed for the coming season.

Hurling development officer, Paudie Butler, is aware of the issues regarding high costs, but is fearful that hurling could be the ultimate loser in the whole affair if such plans are adopted:

"The county boards are certainly talking to Croke Park on a serious level about what they will do because they are saying the costs are too high if they have an overnight stay. They have to look at finances, we under-stand that, but I don't hear anyone talking about this in football, so we have to be careful that hurling isn't shoved back again. Hurling people won't take another setback. They don't want to be tricked into something that is just cost-saving for football."

[muppet]

That sounds so anti-everything that the Gaa is supposed to be about, that I smell another agenda.

Are we approaching bankruptcy or something?

[johnneycool]

Its hard to take that serious considering there are many's an intercounty football team without a snowballs chance in hell of winning an AI.

Will they be consigned to the scrapheap as well?

[dowling]

Maybe in the same way there is a ceiling on costs that any political party can spend during elections the same could be done for the national league. Hence keeping costs down and leveling the playing field.

[bottlethrower7]

The GPA should follow the lead of the students and rally all the hurlers from weaker counties and march on Leinster house.

I'd like to see the riot squad take on the Cavan hurlers!

The Kilkenny footballers should go and show their support too

[johnneycool]

The GPA should follow the lead of the students and rally all the hurlers from weaker counties and march on Leinster house.

I'd like to see the riot squad take on the Cavan hurlers!

The Kilkenny footballers should go and show their support too

If this motion ever gets to congress then more than ever the hurlers in the weaker counties will be looking for support from the 'traditional' hurling counties.

[neilthemac]

The GPA should follow the lead of the students and rally all the hurlers from weaker counties and march on Leinster house.

I'd like to see the riot squad take on the Cavan hurlers!

The Kilkenny footballers should go and show their support too

If this motion ever gets to congress then more than ever the hurlers in the weaker counties will be looking for support from the 'traditional' hurling counties.

as always, the stronger counties will vote to look after themselves and don't give a toss about the other counties

[Ash Smoker]

Cavan are thinking of pulling their senior team out of the league and diverting the money to developing hurling at underage.
Are they genuine in wanting to improve hurling  from the bottom up, or is it penny pinching Cavan style?