This year's Leinster Hurling Championship qualifier group would be right up Arsene Wenger's alley.
Usually, when it comes to a group stage of a competition, there's an incentive to finish on top. That's not the case with this year's Leinster Hurling Championship qualifier group - you're better off finishing second.
Over the years, Arsenal, much to their detriment, have finished second in their Champions League group and as a result faced much tougher opposition. For Offaly, Carlow, Westmeath and Kerry, the oppositite is the case in 2016.
The sight of Kerry in the Leinster Hurling Championship is strange enough for many. The Kingdom were promoted to the Championship after winning the Christy Ring Cup last year. Antrim were relegated to the second tier.
Whoever finishes top of the qualifier group will face last year's All-Ireland finalists Galway in the quarter-final on June 5th. For the runner-up, it's the much less testing opposition of Laois. Rarely has a second place finish been so desirable.
There is the argument that the quarter-final is the best time for whoever comes through the qualifier group to face Galway. Micheál Donoghue's side will have been two months without competitive action at that stage. They will be cold.
That said, taking on a Laois side which failed to win a game in Division 1B of the League - but still avoided relegation - looks far more desirable.
The qualifier group gets underway on May 1st.
Read: It Seems One Of The Greatest Of All GAA Cliches Does Not Apply To Kilkenny
Picture credit: Sportsfile
