Waterford manager Derek McGrath wants changes to league format

Strange how the manager who has arguably got the most out of the Allianz Hurling League so far would like to see the format changed again, although Waterford’s Derek McGrath is clearly looking at the bigger picture.

Sunday’s eight-point victory over Galway was significant on several counts: it meant Waterford were the only Division 1B team to progress to the league semi-finals (where they’ll meet Tipperary), and already assured of promotion to Division 1A for 2016, they’re still in the hunt to win the title outright, with increasing confidence too.

McGrath, however, believes that hurling would be better served by two even divisions of six teams each, with less emphasis on promotion and relegation. Indeed Sunday’s Division 1A relegation play-off involved the All-Ireland champions of the last two years, with Clare eventually losing out to Kilkenny by a single point – and with that consigned to Division 1B for 2016.

“I think each game is played on its own merits,” says McGrath. “If you look at Clare going back to 1B, or Limerick back there again, and Wexford, they are all going to be forces come the championship. I think people would be silly writing off any of those teams.

‘Big gap’

“I also watched the Dublin-Limerick game, and I think some of the media felt there was a big gap between 1A and 1B, based on that game. But then you wouldn’t think that after watching us against Galway.

“But my firm belief is that there should be two even divisions of six, based on the whole approach. I think it allows for less pressure, in terms of going up or down, and allowing for the development of teams. So I would go back to that. And that’s not based on us going up or not. That’s my honest opinion, anyway.

“Like going for the Waterford job last year, you’re already under pressure to stay up. And you’re approach can filter down the lads, if you feel under pressure to stay in 1A, and that will be the case for us again next year. We also feel we’ll have three or four young fellas to come in next year, so this whole process will take about five years. I know that sounds mad, but that’s my opinion.”

The current hurling league format has also left several top counties with an extended break before their next competitive game in the championship: Kilkenny must wait 12 weeks before their Leinster semi-final on June 21st; Offaly and Wexford both have 10 weeks before their Leinster quarter-finals; Galway have to wait nine weeks (before playing Dublin); and Limerick and Clare both have eight weeks before their Munster championship clash on May 24th.

Both those hurling league semi-finals, meanwhile, have been fixed for Nowlan Park in Kilkenny on April 19th: Cork will play Dublin at 2pm, followed by Tipperary against Waterford at 4pm.

Personal satisfaction

For McGrath, there is also some personal satisfaction in taking Waterford to this stage of the competition with a young panel who, despite playing an overtly defensive style of hurling, are still comfortably outscoring their opposition.

“You’re going in a particular direction,” he says, “and I won’t say some people savage it, but they wonder what you’re doing. So this is not vindication, but it’s just the direction we’re going in. I know it will have bumps, and we could be hockeyed out the door by Tipperary, and we’re acutely aware that will come.

“But we made a lot of changes at the start of the year. We were subjected to a lot of conjecture or debate, which is welcome. There was a sense of flux but we just needed to get off to a good start.”