VIDEO: Chewing over hurling’s big questions

As part of the Irish Examiner’s build up to the hurling Championship a group of our writers, columnists and analysts gathered for an hour’s debate on the big questions facing hurling this year.

The hour quickly turned into two and here's a taste of what was said.

COLM O’CONNOR: To get us underway, let’s look to the future. Liam Sheedy is chairman of the national hurling review forum. What are the key issues his group needs to tackle?

DONAL ÓG CUSACK: Where do you start? We have this game, such a beautiful game, and we can’t even seem to play it in every county in Ireland. Football is one of the biggest challenges hurling faces. Certain football people see hurling as a threat.

CO’C: Is it the easy option to blame football? Should more not be done from the hurling perspective to push the sport?

DÓC: Football is not the only issue, but it is an issue. You look at Dublin (and the development of hurling). That has come around because yes they do have the numbers, but they have also invested at club level. I think you could do the same in so-called lesser counties. I don’t think you should have the one body looking after both games because preference will be taken on occasion.

Watch more of what was said in the video below and don't forget you can read the full transcript in tomorrow's Irish Examiner Championship 2014 pull out.