GAA president advocating for huge change to All-Ireland structure

Writing in today’s match programme for the All-Ireland SHC final between Cork and Tipperary, GAA president Jarlath Burns has spoken of a potential change to the current championship structure.

He is suggesting to get rid of the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-finals, which sees the finalists of the second-tier Joe McDonagh Cup face off against the third-placed teams from the Leinster SHC and Munster SHC.

The argument against the games is that they undermine the Joe McDonagh Cup, as they are played just a week after the final, giving the sides little time to prepare.

This year’s matches saw Kildare lose by 21 points to Dublin, and Tipperary defeat Laois by 23.

Burns wrote: “As we look forward, we must also be reflective.

“There is a necessary and timely conversation to be had about the structure of our senior hurling championship, specifically regarding the Joe McDonagh Cup finalists entering the All-Ireland series through a preliminary quarter-final.

“While the current system offers a pathway, it may also place an unfair burden on teams whose seasons have already been long and challenging.

“If we were to remove the preliminary quarter-final, we would open the door for a longer and more meaningful Joe McDonagh Cup competition – a competition that deserves to stand proudly on its own, with adequate time, coverage, and respect.

“These are discussions that must be held with fairness, vision, and the future in mind.”

The same motion for change was voted on at Special Congress in September 2023, and may be voted on again later this year.