Format as good as it’s going to get

I’VE heard the complaints by Cork coach John Allen about the fact that there is no real reward for teams winning the provincial championships in either Munster and Leinster, with the finalists in both provinces automatically qualifying for the All-Ireland quarter-final.

Knowing the quality of the man, I know his complaint isn’t selfishly motivated; he made that statement before the Munster final, before this Sunday’s Leinster final, when either Kilkenny or Wexford would stand to gain if the winners were to proceed directly to an All-Ireland semi-final.

Much as I respect his views, however, I disagree with him. The revamped Hurling Development Committee (HDC) is examining the system with a view to making adjustments. My earnest hope is that those adjustments will be confined to the minimum.