Judge & Jury

THE ACCUSED: Hurling’s lawmakers

THE PROSECUTION: Darren Stamp says hurling is now “nearly a sissies’ game, a bit like soccer. The manliness is gone out of it. A lad might be trying to take the ball off a fella by flicking it away but a tip on the hand or hurl is a yellow card.”

THE DEFENCE: Every second inter-county star worth his salt is currently out injured. Does Darren want the rest to follow?

EXPERT WITNESS: Paudie Butler: “You never see blood in hurling games now. The little Richie Hogans and the Lar Corbetts are finishing games without being maimed.”

VERDICT: Case dismissed! Hurling has never been better policed. Free-wheeling epics like the last two All-Ireland finals can exist in a world without frontal charges and mean chops.