Structure may hurt Offaly

National Hurling League Division One AFurther concerns have been expressed about the format of this year's National Hurling League. Offaly captain Brendan Murphy admitted yesterday his team would be left in "limbo" if they failed to reach the play-off stages, which would be their fate unless they beat Waterford in Birr on Sunday.

All three concluding matches in Division One A take place on Sunday. Clare are away to Cork to decide who will go straight into the semi-finals, while Wexford play Down knowing both teams are destined for the relegation play-offs. That leaves Offaly and Waterford to battle for the remaining play-off place.

Offaly are in the greatest danger of finishing fourth in the division, the one position that doesn't get you another day out. If they fail to win they face into a six-week lay-off before the Leinster championship quarter-final against Laois on May 21st.

Murphy said: "We really don't want to be left in limbo like that. Even the two teams that play off for relegation are guaranteed a few more games. It's only the team left in fourth place that doesn't get any more games. That's a bit of a disaster really coming up to the championship. You really do want to be playing as many games as possible, so we'll be treating it very seriously.

"So I suppose that puts extra pressure on us now for Sunday. And being such a young team I think it is very important we get as many games as we can.

"They're learning all the time, and I think to have a quarter-final or a semi-final under the belt would be absolutely ideal for us going into the championship."

Murphy joins a list of players and managers expressing concerns about the format of this year's league, which saw the second phase abandoned in favour of the quarter-finals and semi-finals. Cork manager John Allen didn't like the look of it before it even began.

Although it was in 1995 that Offaly last made the qualifying stages of the league, no matter what happens on Sunday they are deemed to have made good progress to date, following a draw with Cork and wins over Wexford and Down. Their last outing, against Clare, was also encouraging despite the defeat, and manager John McIntyre is making slow but steady progress in his second year in charge.

"A few of the younger lads like Joe Bergin and Alan Egan are making a big impression. But playing Division Two hurling last year, I think we were in first gear all the time. When it came to stepping it up in the championship we realised we were way off the pace in terms of fitness and hurling. But we did learn as the championship went on, and with the decent games behind us this year I think we'll be much better prepared for the championship than last year."

Making the league play-offs would clearly enhance those championship preparations, which makes Sunday's game as crucial a league match as they've played in at least a decade.

TODAY: Munster MHC: Cork v Limerick, Gaelic Grounds, 6.30.

SATURDAY: Connacht U-21 football final: Mayo v Galway, McHale Park, Castlebar, 3.30, M Duffy (Sligo).

SUNDAY: National Football League (3.30pm unless stated): Division One A: Monaghan v Cork, Castleblaney, M Deegan (Laois). Fermanagh v Offaly, Enniskillen, M Duffy (Sligo). Mayo v Tyrone, Castlebar, J Bannon (Longford, Live TG4). Kerry v Dublin, Killarney, B Crowe (Cavan). Division One B: Down v Galway, Newcastle, E Murtagh (Longford). Meath v Derry, Páirc Tailteann, J Geaney (Cork). Wexford v Armagh, Wexford Park, A Mangan (Kerry). Laois v Kildare, Portlaoise, P Russell (Tipperary). Division Two A: Clare v Longford, Cusack Park, V Neary (Mayo). Carlow v London, Dr Cullen Park, S Carroll (Westmeath), 1.30. Roscommon v Donegal, Hyde Park, P Finnegan (Louth). Limerick v Leitrim, Páirc na nGael, S Doyle (Wexford). Division Two B: Cavan v Waterford, Kingspan Breffni Park, P O Reilly (Longford). Louth v Westmeath, Drogheda, A McAlynn (Derry). Tipperary v Antrim, Semple Stadium, R Hickey (Clare), 1.0. Sligo v Wicklow, Markievicz Park, P Hughes (Armagh), 2.0.

National Hurling League: Division One A: Offaly v Waterford, Birr, P O'Connor (Limerick, deferred TG4). Cork v Clare, Páirc Uí Rinn, M Haverty (Galway). Down v Wexford, Ballycran, B Kelly (Westmeath), 1.0. Quarter-finals (extra-time if necessary) Division Two: Meath v Mayo, Carrick-on-Shannon, J Sexton (Limerick), 2.0. Derry v Westmeath, Scotstown, J O'Mahony (Limerick), 2.0. Division Three: Louth v Fermanagh, Clontibret, C McGuinness (Down), 2.0. Monaghan v Longford, Ballyconnell, T Mahon (Fermanagh), 2.0.