O’Connell calls for NHL to be scrapped

CLARE midfielder Brian O’Connell has called for the National Hurling League to be scrapped and replaced with a “Champions League” type format for the All-Ireland series.

And, while he would be in favour of retaining the Munster hurling championship, it would be as an adjunct to the All-Ireland series and not an integral feature of it.

O’Connell was speaking at the launch of the Munster Championships in Lismore Castle yesterday and made the comments in response to a question about Clare being relegated from Division One of the Allianz League recently. “I don’t know how it will be any good for any of our young hurlers coming in for the first time and playing for Clare. I don’t know what value they will get, with no disrespect to those counties, playing in Division Two,’’ he commented.