Carlow’s John Meyler calls for hurling’s top divisions to be expanded

Six of one will always be a half dozen of another, although hurling would be better served by having two top divisions of seven, according to Carlow manager John Meyler.

He is, typically, speaking from the heart as much as the head – Meyler’s team are already facing the relegation play-off in Division 1B, no matter what happens in Sunday’s final game against Dublin.

Carlow will survive “come hell or high water”, he says, although dropping down to Division 2 would undo much of the progress of recent weeks, even if their results haven’t exactly proved it.

Indeed Carlow have lost all four games, the only team in Division 1B without any points, yet things could easily be different. They blew a comfortable first-half advantage against Wexford (Meyler's former charges), let slip an equalising goal against Limerick, then lost out to a late, late goal against Offaly, before falling heavily to Antrim last Sunday.

“I certainly think we have been very competitive over the last five weeks,” says Meyler, “and yes things could have been different. This league has been very good for the development of Carlow hurling.

“Okay we were well beaten last Sunday against Antrim, I felt we just didn’t show up. But lads have been mad keen, very enthusiastic, and it would be a huge boost to Carlow hurling to stay in Division 1B.

“But if I was to be honest about it, speaking objectively too, I think hurling would be much better off having two divisions of seven. By that I mean the likes of Dublin or Limerick should already be in Division 1A, even Wexford or Offaly, even though they aren’t hurling as well right now. I wouldn’t be suggesting we go back to two divisions of eight teams, either. I just think this level of hurling has been very beneficial to Carlow, and I think we’ve shown we can be competitive, in every game we’ve played.”

Sunday’s game against Dublin in Parnell Park is a dead rubber from a Carlow perspective – what is certain is that they are destined for the relegation play-off, on April 14th, most likely against Antrim.

Good performance
"And that will be our All-Ireland final, our sole raison d'être right now," he says. "That's not saying Sunday's game is not important, and I suspect Dublin will want to maintain their form. And we'll certainly be looking for another good performance."

Interestingly, Meyler is totally supportive of the new championship structures,approved at Congress, which, from 2014, will mean a reduction in the number of counties eligible to compete in the MacCarthy Cup, while introducing a new qualifier round in the Leinster championship.

“That’s a different situation,” he says, “because it’s no good having lop-sided games in the championship, matches over after 10 minutes, or whatever. Counties such as Carlow have to step up to the plate now, and I think they can do that over time.

"But the reality is we are dealing with a very limited pool of players, same as in Antrim, Laois, and Westmeath. Look at Kilkenny last Sunday. They're missing a load of players right now, and yet can just pull fellas from the bushes, the likes of Ger Aylward, Lester Ryan.

“Carlow will never have that luxury. It’s extremely hard for us, but it is all about making progress on an incremental basis, to be more competitive over time. This league has shown that we can do that, and why it’s so important that we stay in Division 1B.”