Bonnar demands expanded top division

WEXFORD boss Colm Bonnar has called for NHL Division One to be expanded, saying the system of using a football model for hurling leagues is not working.

He reasoned: “You have a Division 4 team in football like Limerick and they could compete with the likes of Cork who were in the Division 1 final.

“Whereas in hurling, you have your 10 or 11 counties and that’s where hurling needs to be promoted. Not demoted. I just can’t think what it would be like for the (Wexford) players to lose a final again and for the players to realise that we’re in Division Two again. It would de-motivate not just the players, but the whole county.

“It’s not right that the top two teams are still not going up. I believe both Clare and Wexford should be going up and that Limerick should be staying up.”

Bonnar said hurling was at such a low ebb in Wexford that some young players would not join the senior panel when invited.

“I’ve asked younger players to come on the inter-county panel and the profile of hurling at the moment is on the way down. They turned us down, they wouldn’t come in.

“I couldn’t see that happening in Kilkenny or Tipp or Galway or any of the teams who are on a high in Division One, even Offaly. The best players will come forward but the profile of hurling has been on the wane and Division Two is putting the knife in it.

“You can’t just put a proud county down in Division Two and keep them there if things don’t go well for them. That’s not helping hurling.”

Bonnar added that it was difficult for Wexford players to motivate themselves for Division 2 hurling.

“You look at the likes of Keith Rossiter or Darren Stamp or Eoin Quigley or Gizzy Lyng – if they have to spend another year in Division Two after spending all their career playing the top teams — in 2007 they were in an All-Ireland semi-final – those players are finding it very hard to motivate themselves. They are seriously disadvantaged even in terms of playing Galway and the calibre of teams that they’re playing against.

“We’re taking two steps back and trying to take three steps forward in terms of going into the championship.”

Bonnar said this Sunday’s game is “hugely important” for both sides.

“Last year you could nearly put down money that Offaly and Wexford were going to be in the final. This year the same with Wexford and Clare being in the final. I have no doubt if Limerick go down and whoever loses (Sunday), that’ll be the final again next year.

“If it’s that certain they should be up in Division 1 and let the teams compete to get back up to Division One.”

Keith Rossiter, Paul Roche and Ross Waters, are doubtful for Sunday’s clash with Clare and Willie Doran is out with a dislocated elbow.