Better break for student hurlers

I WOULD like to compliment Mr Brendan Larkin on his coverage of Munster Colleges Gaelic games in the Irish Examiner.

However, I must take him to task on two articles (Irish Examiner May 21, Sept 24) on running the Harty Cup on a round-robin basis, a motion proposed by me on behalf of De la Salle College, Waterford, at the agm of the Munster Colleges on May 15 last.

From his first article on May 21 it was obvious that Mr Larkin had some agenda of his own against the running of this competition on a round-robin basis, a system that already exists for the Corn Ui Mhuiri in senior football.

The purpose was go give as many high quality games as possible to all teams participating in the Harty Cup, where all teams would get at least three games instead of the previous situation where half of the teams were getting just one.

The aim is to improve the standard of hurling in weaker areas. The motion, having been thoroughly discussed by the meeting, was overwhelmingly carried by 15 votes to two hardly a reflection of a not very well thought-out motion. In spite of Mr Larkin's inference to the contrary (Irish Examiner Sept 24), De La Salle College did not look for a postponement of their game against St Colman's College.

De la Salle was prepared to play this game without their Ballygunner players. Any request to re-arrange this fixture came from sources outside De la Salle. At no time was there any contact between De la Salle College and any officer of the Munster Colleges or between De la Salle and St Colman's on the re-arranging of this fixture.

Leo McSweeney,

Head of Sport,

De la Salle College,

Waterford