Earlier this week Clare boss Davy Fitzgerald was on Off The Ball, the day after his team secured Division 1A status for 2014 following an extra-time victory over Cork.

With the job of staying in the top tier done and dusted, the former Clare goalkeeping legend could have been forgiven if he didn’t bother himself with the notion of expanding Division 1A.

But as he told Joe Molloy, he strongly advocates the creation of top division of 10 teams instead of the current six.

His counterpart on Sunday, Jimmy Barry Murphy could be forgiven if he believes Cork’s relegation was both galling and unlucky, given the fact that the Rebels thrashed first place finishers Tipperary in the opening round and also performed adequately throughout the league.

Cork can count themselves unlucky that only two points or a win, separated them from finishing top of the pile which is evidence of the competitiveness in Division 1A.

The quality of hurling in the 2013 league was Championship standard and it is the maintenance of that high level of play and preventing the complacency of the top teams which may cause some reluctance to expand the top division.

But trying to spread that quality to teams outside of the traditional strongholds will make for a better Liam McCarthy Cup championship.

If teams with good potential like Dublin and Limerick do not get regular opportunity to face the Kilkennys, Tipps and Galways, how will they close the gap and create a more competitive summer championship?

Adding Dublin, Limerick, Offaly and Wexford to Division 1A might drop the overall standard in the short-term but in the long-term increased exposure to top level talent would bring them in line with the required standard.

Italy at the Six Nations is a good example from another sport of how throwing a team at the deep end can raise standards even if it takes a decade. And the truth is teams like Dublin and Limerick are not as far behind as the Azurri were when they joined the Six Nations in 2000.