Northern blues forgotten as attention moves elsewhere

Are we fiddling with sweeper systems while Ulster hurling burns?

Nine days out from the code’s biggest day, the question should be posed. Kilkenny’s 52-point defeat of Derry in last Saturday’s U21 All-Ireland semi-final ended up one of hurling’s darker days.

Face a related question: how much further off the pace would Antrim or Down have fallen? Within the province, Derry had 16 points to spare over Down and two points over Antrim. That relay is a chilling piece of sports arithmetic.