Former Antrim star Neil McManus has called on the GAA to revamp the current Leinster Senior Hurling Championship relegation path, insisting that it's an unfair system that is hindering development of the sport.
Carlow were relegated straight back down to the Joe McDonagh Cup after only securing promotion to the top tier of hurling last summer by beating Offaly in the final.
McManus believes that relegation will harm Carlow in the long term and feels that the relegation system disadvantages clubs playing in Leinster, one that teams playing in the Munster championship don’t face.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport on Monday, McManus said:
"I really, really feel for the Carlow senior hurling team this morning because that result yesterday means they're back into the Joe McDonagh.
"They'll have to work so hard next year to try and get to a Joe McDonagh final. It's a really competitive competition to just have a shot at getting back into the Leinster Championship.
"It's a really unfair system. There's no relegation in Munster and there's not a word about that, and yet it's okay for the likes of Antrim or Carlow to yo-yo up and down.
"I think we should retain them for a minimum of two seasons. If you come up, you get to stay for a minimum of two seasons; that's how you actually develop an emerging county; you expose them to hurling at the highest level."
'An issue the GAA have got to sort out'
McManus also thinks that Carlow will now lose some senior players to retirement as a direct result of their relegation and a rebuild could be on the cards.
"The one thing you can be sure of, is a couple of those Carlow players facing into the Joe McDonagh next year will choose retirement.
"Some of them will choose traveling rather than staying and trying to fight back up, which would have happened in any county after a relegation. So it does nothing for the promotion of the game.
"It's an issue that the GAA have got to sort out."
Laois and Offaly will play for a place in next year's Leinster Senior Hurling Championship on Sunday week. Overcoming Antrim and maintaining a place at hurling's top table will be their prime focus.
