Fennelly: Don’t fix what isn’t broken

MICHAEL FENNELLY is the latest top inter-county hurler to criticise the new Allianz Hurling League structure.

On the issue of the new six-team Division 1 backed by Central Council for 2012, the Kilkenny midfielder, hotly tipped to be named ‘Hurler of the Year’, said he doesn’t know “who the hell is making these decision or what’s going on in their heads, to be honest”.

Fennelly’s main gripe is the reduced number of games. From next year, teams will be guaranteed just five league games compared to a minimum of seven last year.

“It’s less games already,” said the Ballyhale man.

“Even when you look at the championship, we only had four games this year, which is quite minimal again. The less league games the more training you are doing so even on that note you’d be in favour of playing more games.”

To make his point, Fennelly recalled an interview he read with Limerick’s Niall Moran 12 months ago.

“He said he wants to be playing games the whole time — every player that talks say they want to be playing more games. I was talking to Joe Canning last week and he basically said the same, the more games the better to be playing.

“You don’t want to be training, you want to be out there playing for your county. So it is strange, I don’t know who the hell is making these decisions or what’s going on in their heads, to be honest.”

Fennelly also attempted to pour cold water over suggestions his club manager and former Kilkenny team-mate James McGarry could be joining the new Waterford management team.

McGarry is in charge of the Shamrocks team that face a championship quarter-final replay against Carrickshock on Sunday.

“He’s with us at the moment and he’s a very good manager, he’s great experience and I’d be hoping he’d stick with us for a while.”