Babs calls for delay in NHL schedule

BABS KEATING has called for the National Hurling League to be pushed back until after St Patrick’s Day with the competition to conclude in early summer.

Currently the NHL begins in February, shortly after the football, and comes to a conclusion in early May but the former Tipperary player and manager believes there is little appetite for hurling so early in the year.

Weather and pitch conditions were his chief gripes yesterday. He singled out the league fixture between Waterford and Kilkenny in early March which, although a superb game, was played on a day “you wouldn’t put ducks out in”.