Hurling Centre of Excellence would benefit all

FOR hurling supporters across the country, probably the most significant item to emerge from last weekend’s GAA Congress in Mullingar was the announcement by president-elect Liam O’Neill that a national Hurling Centre of Excellence is about to be established.

The idea comes from a committee which was commissioned by GAA president Christy Cooney and chaired by O’Neill, whose brief was to find ways hurling could be developed.

“It’s where the best research will be available to everybody,” O’Neill explained, “(so) that the likes of Carlow and Antrim shouldn’t have to go and source expertise (themselves) in dietary, strength and conditioning and whatever it takes to give an edge to be an inter-county hurler. We should be able to provide that for those who cannot afford it themselves so that everybody has access to (the) best information.”