Curran says pace is paramount in modern game

Former Cork hurler Ronan Curran believes the county and Clare’s presence in next month’s All-Ireland final has proven the age profile of elite hurling has dropped dramatically.

The two-time All Star centre-back, who retired from the inter-county game at just 30 two years ago, said the longevity of a player’s career will be dictated by how long they retain pace.

Should each team field the teams that won their respective All-Ireland semi-finals, the average age of the Cork team will be a mere 24.26 while Clare’s will be an even lower 23.2.