The GAA has opted to stick with the new Hurling League structure agreed upon last December ahead of the 2014 season.

The decision to adopt the format will see Cork and Limerick play in the second tier, Division 1B, and add quarter-finals after the group games.

At a Central Council meeting this afternoon, three separate proposals were considered.

Firstly, six-team divisions were preferred over seven-team leagues.

Secondly, when the two six-team proposal were analysed, the Michael Burns plan for a 12-county Division One divided into two equal sections with three bands of the top two, middle two and bottom two in each section and a cross-section fixtures was dropped.

The new model will be in place for the next three seasons, “allowing for a full review of the two main hurling competitions in 2016”.