GAA:The GAA hopes the hurling competition proposals released today for discussion will be adopted for a reasonable length of time. The proposed structures for league and championship have been brought forward by the Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) and will be debated by Central Council on Saturday fortnight.

Both sets of proposals prioritise providing a pathway for counties to progress to higher levels of competition, but only if they manage to win their way up the ranks.

Interestingly, the CCCC appear to have focused most attention on how to deal with the situation facing the twilight zone counties – caught between the MacCarthy and Ring Cups, not good enough for the former and too good for the latter.

Should they be accepted, the championship proposals will go forward to annual congress as motions and if passed, will be implemented for the 2014 season. One of the three suggested league options needs only to be accepted by Central Council to come into force, also in 2014.

The blueprint would see the current 15-team field reduced incrementally to 13 by 2016 through the introduction in 2014 of a ‘qualifying group’ for Antrim, Laois, Carlow, Westmeath and London. Having played on a round-robin basis the top two counties in the group would progress to the Leinster championship, the bottom side would be relegated and the second-last would have to play the Ring Cup winners for MacCarthy Cup status in 2015.

The other sees a more complicated format with the top four teams in either division being drawn against each other in quarter-finals on a seeded basis.

CCCC HURLING PROPOSALS - Main Points

2014 Championship

MacCarthy Cup to be reduced to 13 counties by 2016.

Promotion from Christy Ring Cup to be dependent on a play-off between winners and a MacCarthy Cup county.

Qualifier group to be played on a round-robin basis between five lowest-ranked MacCarthy Cup counties (Antrim, Laois, Carlow, Westmeath and London) with top two progressing to senior championship.

Similar structures to govern movement between the other championship tiers – Christy Ring, Nicky Rackard and Lory Meagher Cups.

Full details here

2014 National League

Three options to go before Central Council.

Two involve six-team formats in Divisions One A and One B with either quarter-finals or semi-finals to follow the regulation season.

Full details here