Score difference for all games will separate three or more teams if they finish on the same number of points.
The GAA have confirmed the contrast between scores for and against over the entire campaign will apply, not score difference in games between the tied counties only.
Last year, a Burgess motion that stipulated score difference between the teams finishing on the same number of points was passed at Annual Congress last year and was operational in the Leinster senior hurling championship and other club championships.
A lack of communication around the new rule and whether it or the previous score difference means of ranking teams was applicable prompted a number of appeals such as Sixmilebridge’s in Clare, Na Fianna in Meath and Gracefield in Offaly.
However, the Central Competitions Control Committee stated in their Allianz League match regulations that total score difference will come into play if three or more counties are on the same number of points.
Should Galway, Limerick and Tipperary all finish on eight points in hurling’s Division 1B, the total score difference will decide which two qualify for the semi-finals. Tipperary’s total score difference is inferior to Galway and Limerick’s but it is +4 in the games against the other two whereas Limerick’s is currently +1 and Galway’s -4.
The last position in the new seven-team Division 1A will go to the best fourth-placed team between the current 1A and 1B, that is the team that has the highest number of points. Should they still be tied, score difference comes into play followed by highest total score for and most goals for.
