2028 Leinster Hurling revamp offers Derry major pathway to elite tier
Proposed eight-team championship overhaul gives Johnny McGarvey’s Christy Ring champions a clear road to the top
A revamped Leinster Senior Hurling Championship could be introduced in 2028, offering a significant incentive for Johnny McGarvey and his Derry charges as they prepare to embark on their maiden Joe McDonagh Cup campaign next spring.
The proposed eight-team format could be up and running by 2028, subject to approval at next year’s GAA Congress. Developed to give emerging counties a more viable pathway towards sustained improvement, the changes aim to help teams moving between the tiers bridge the gap to the game’s established heavyweights.
The final recommendation of a Leinster workshop committee, led by former GAA president Nickey Brennan, proposes two groups of four, incorporating the finalists from the Joe McDonagh Cup.
The bottom two teams in the second group would join the remaining four Joe McDonagh Cup sides, with the top four progressing to the semi-finals of the second-tier competition. Should Derry maintain their status in the Joe McDonagh Cup next year, the structure would offer the Oakleaf men a realistic pathway towards reaching the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship for the first time.
Having secured their maiden Christy Ring Cup title during the summer, Derry could therefore be among the counties to benefit from the proposed changes, should they receive approval at next year’s Congress. McGarvey’s side are amongst a number of emerging counties beginning to reap the rewards of sustained success at underage level, with recent progress now starting to bear fruit on the senior inter-county stage.
Neil McManus, the former Antrim star and Ulster hurling stalwart, has welcomed the proposals, expressing support for any initiative that could help counties such as Derry take the next step.
“I’m very happy with this. It’s well thought out and really positive. It will read to most people as a two-group Leinster Championship with the Joe McDonagh teams, but it’s really three groups. The Joe McDonagh is very much part of the Leinster Championship.
“You’ll have to earn your progress. You’ll get the opportunity within this structure to play against the big boys if you can progress within your group, and that is absolutely brilliant. You’ll earn your chance, but the chance is there, and that’s what we really want.
“It gives your developing counties the chance to progress. It allows them to see the opportunity, and that will allow for real buy-in from all of their players within their clubs to want to be involved. The only bit that is missing is help.”
While McManus believes the proposed structural changes could provide emerging counties with a valuable opportunity to progress, he also stressed that the future of hurling depends on addressing a much broader challenge: increasing participation in the sport.
Financial backing, expertise and practical support will be needed to help developing counties compete with the established order in the short to medium term. However, McManus believes the more fundamental task is ensuring that every child in Ireland has the opportunity to play the national game.
“We need to lend them expertise, maybe some consultancy. Financial aid will also help get them to the next level, so we need to help them. We’ve given them the structure; now they need the practical help.
“Hurling needs to grow on two fronts. It is the best game in the world. Every child needs to be given the opportunity to play it. And then, secondly, we need to grow that top tier because it hasn’t changed in 100 years, and both are achievable.”
McManus also pointed to the sparse distribution of hurling clubs across the island as evidence of the work still required to broaden the game’s reach. While improving competitiveness at inter-county level is important, he argued that expanding participation must come first.
“We have hurling clubs dotted sparsely around this island. Growing the competitiveness of the inter-county game is very much the second part. Firstly, we need to grow participation.
“We need to get hurling onto the national curriculum. We should be so proud of this sport. There is nothing else like it on the globe. It perfectly represents us as Irish people: the poetry, the art, the bravery, and the skill. We should be doing so much more for it. This sport is UNESCO-recognised.
“How shameful is it that not every child on this island gets the chance to play this game? You don’t have to play inter-county or for your club senior team. When you strike a sliotar off the wall and it comes back into your hand, there is no feeling like it, and everyone should feel that growing up.”