Eimear Ryan: Are we comfortable with hurling as a niche pursuit?

News that a National Hurling Action Plan Workgroup had its first meeting earlier this month is a welcome development.

Keith Higgins of Mayo is on the National Hurling Action Plan Workgroup

In the weeks since the GAA’s misguided motion to demote five counties from the national hurling league was quite rightly bopped on the head, you’d still be wondering about the logic behind it.

The five counties in question – Louth, Fermanagh, Longford, Cavan and Leitrim – were all opposed, rightly pointing out that their intercounty season would be compressed from six months (league and Lory Meagher Cup) to three (Lory only). It’s hard to keep evolving in those circumstances.