It looks like Cork will be getting a reprieve in the National Hurling League. Relegated to Division 1B, a new proposal to expand the top tier from six teams to eight teams would return them to a revamped Division 1.

Limerick would also join Cork in the top division, with six teams remaining in the second tier.

Central Council will consider the proposal at a meeting towards the end of next week. A simple majority would be enough to see it happen.

But the likes of Wexford and Offaly are angry that they will be left in a six team second tier, taking on weaker counties compared to big teams like Cork. There are also those conspiracy theorists who believe that the changes have been made to prevent the Rebels from spending a year (or more) in a lower tier competition.

The impact will be both financial and sporting for hurling counties. To discuss the merits of the proposed changes, Daithi Regan joined Diarmuid 'Gizzy' Lyng and Ger on the line.

Although Daithi is not totally opposed to an eight team model, he prefers the six team top tier.

"Realistically, my concern would be that over the last number of years, when Kilkenny were as dominant as they were, there was a huge movement in the GAA to promote hurling and it was felt that hurling was dying on its feet," said Daithi.

Promoting elitism?

"All of a sudden and out of nowhere, this year we've had the greatest championship in so many years. And then you look at the Top 8 teams now - and I will include Waterford in this. If you asked me to lay €5,000 to say that Waterford will not or cannot win an All Ireland, I wouldn't say it. I wouldn't say it about Tipp, Clare Limerick, Dublin, Galway or Cork. The only problem that I have is they're promoting a bit of elitism when hurling was supposedly in awful danger over the years. I can understand that there is a commercial aspect to it and I imagine a league with those eight teams in it. It would be fantastic, no doubt about it. But from an Offaly and Wexford point of view, there is a definitive division and they would be cut adrift."

Citing the examples of provincial winners Dublin and Limerick as well as Cork and Clare who contested a relegation playoff and an All Ireland final, Daithi believes Division 1B in its current guise, is certainly not weak.

For Daithi, real innovation might be to have one format and one league with three points for a win and bonus points depending on goal tallies.   

Meanwhile, Gizzy believes the onus should be on the counties like Wexford, Offaly and Carlow to get their houses in order.  

He said: "I think it's important to acknowledge that Wexford, Offaly and Carlow are in the second tier for a reason. It's their responsibility to get into the top level and it's important not to be a victim in it. I don't think that Croke Park should necessarily look at it from Offaly and Wexford's perspective. The whole Division 1A and 1B format was to develop hurling in counties where it was lagging a little bit and realistically Offaly and Wexford are far behind." 

©INPHO/Lorraine O'Sullivan