The upcoming weekend will bring clarity to the revised structure for the hurling league. Some fear that this may further secure the position of top-ranking counties, leading to a self-sustaining authority due to the disproportionate advantages it provides for inclusion in that group.
After the conclusion of the regulation games, the foremost seven counties will gain a spot in an intensely contentious top-flight starting next year. This presents clear on-field benefits for these Division 1A teams, as they can hone their skills against other high-ranking teams. What strikes as somewhat ironic is that this kind of intense competition, leading to the relegation of two teams annually, was the very reason for the initial format change.
The desire of top teams to experiment and build panel depth without fear of relegation led to the inclusion of ‘development’ counties in the making of a 12-team top division, partitioned equally into two groups in 2020. Lower-ranked counties served as a safety net against relegation for top-tier teams, who were required to do barely enough to retain their status.
This setup resulted in a lot of foreseeable outcomes and led the CCCC (Central Competitions Control Committee) to modify the structure, injecting more unpredictability into outcomes, and ramping up relegation threats – in essence, increasing the quantity of competitive matches.
The allure for the top counties is clear-cut. Even if they need to navigate player development amidst intense competition, the net benefits are tangible. Even the switch to seven-team divisions ensures three home games.
As former Dublin CEO John Costello would jest, if a county wishes to come out profitable, they’d best battle through the league right up to the finals and then promptly exit the championship in the earliest round possible. This is primarily because the league generates revenue, while the championship incurs costs.
In the league, the regulations dictate that the home team receives 20 per cent of the gate, with the remaining sum being split amongst the counties. However, for a championship, the home team is only entitled to 15 per cent, while all operational costs are shouldered by the organizing body – be it a provincial council or the CCCC.
The financial figures for Cork GAA’s annual accounting underscore the economic importance of hurling league games. The county has held the most well-attended game in the divisional phases for the past two years. The All-Ireland champions from Limerick drew in an audience of 19,516 a year ago, and more recently, a crowd of 16,274 congregated for the appearance of Kilkenny at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, a turnout that’s not anticipated to be topped in the remaining two weekends.
In terms of income from league earnings last year, Cork gleaned €279,037, with hurling (€178,191) earning more than football (€100,846). The hurling revenue stemmed from the games against Limerick, Westmeath, and Wexford, while a series of home matches in Division 2 with Meath, Dublin, and Derry resulted in unusual football earnings. The previous year saw hurling earning €222,388, with a campaign that included a match against Limerick, leading Cork to the final. However, football only earned €41,207 from games with Clare, Galway, and Down.
Greater ticket sales result from competing against top-level rival teams. Limerick drew close to 20,000 attendees last year, while Westmeath drew 7,347. If Cork falls to Division 1B, its draw will resemble Westmeath’s rather than Limerick’s.
Paul Bellew, Galway’s chair, addresses this matter. He indicates that a major factor in their endorsement of change is enhanced competitiveness and increased box-office appeal. The proportion of gate proceeds in the league is more substantial than in the championship, thereby making larger and more frequent matches financially advantageous. He is also aspiring to install floodlights next year to facilitate Saturday evening matches. There’s a growing agreement that this schedule is preferable for both players and spectators, notwithstanding its potential to deter away fans.
From a different viewpoint, Wexford chair Micheál Martin disclosed that they voted against the new format, but he accentuated their conviction of securing a place in the new Division 1A.
“He voiced a robust opposition against the proposal,” he asserts. “Upon engaging with all parties involved in a regional board session, we concluded it wasn’t advantageous to the league. Looking ahead two years from now, I predict that this decision will not be lauded as a success.
“The septets, I believe, are going to lead to a yo-yo effect. If the proportion of the league share continues as is, we’re looking at a considerable decline in financial support for those specific counties. Discussing the development of hurling, it’s untenable to permit those counties to bear such a severe blow without reexamining distribution mechanisms.”
He draws attention to their two games this year against Offaly and Clare which were held on Saturday nights in poor weather, thus were televised, influencing the turnout significantly.
In general, despite the lack of a reward for participating in a televised event, it’s undeniable that such exposure provides benefit to sponsors while also enhancing the sport’s profile within the county.
This weekend’s games, with Waterford facing Wexford and Galway against Dublin, will play a pivotal role in indicating who’s likely to secure a position in the top seven spots – three from 1A and 1B plus the fourth-ranked county with a superior track record.
The privileged and the underprivileged.
– Check out our ‘Inside Politics Podcast’ for the most recent commentary and analysis.
– Subscribe to push alerts and have top-tier articles, analyses, and comments sent directly to your mobile.
– Stay updated with The Irish Times on WhatsApp.”