This is a joke, isn’t it?
Offaly’s stunning run of form going into their Division 1 quarter-final against Tipperary has convinced the GAA not to make any amendments to the National Hurling League structure until at least 2019.
The Faithful County will face off against the All-Ireland champions despite losing the first four of their five games in Division 1B, their win over Kerry by a narrow two-point margin enough for them to secure fourth spot and thereby sneak on to the top table for the upcoming knockout rounds.
Offaly finished on the same number of points as the Kingdom as well as Laois (who, incidentally, beat Kevin Ryan’s side in an earlier round). They advance to face the country’s top side having accrued a points difference of -39.
As Tipp prepare to travel to Tullamore on Sunday, the GAA’s director of games administration Feargal McGill has confirmed that it is too late for any changes to be made ahead of next year’s league campaign.
“Prior notice would have to have been given so teams knew what was at stake,” he told the Irish Independent.
“It was established two years ago at Central Council that there would be no change for at least three years. We don’t anticipate change.”
On the GAA Hour Hurling Show, retired Tipperary All-Ireland winner Paddy Stapleton said the current league structure was a bit of a “mongrel”.
“It’s another situation in the GAA where we are trying to please everyone. It is after turning into a bit of a mongrel, the whole league. There is no purity, no sense.”
Former Clare and Dublin boss Anthony Daly has told RTÉ that the “system isn’t right” and that Offaly could now be in for “a right trimming.”
“It can’t be right that the fourth team, winning one game just to get out of trouble and avoid the relegation final to go down to Division 2A, is in the quarter-finals,” he said.
“It might not be too pretty either.
“Luckily for them it’s in Tullamore and they might be able to tie it down a bit, but if Tipperary get into their stride, coming off the bit of the disappointment of a defeat to Cork, they could be in for a right trimming. I don’t think it does any good for anybody.”
