Richie Ryan’s curious journey from Limerick to Kildare

After their convincing win away to Laois last weekend, Kerry hurling manager Ciarán Carey took aim at a “silly motion” tabled for this year’s GAA’s Annual Congress and opened fire.

The motion in question puts Rule 6.9 of the official guide under the microscope. That directive centres on a designated ‘Special Eligibility Provision for Hurling’ which, in essence, is a special dispensation allowing emerging counties up to five outside players per year.

It’s a rule that many stakeholders in the GAA have a serious problem with, including some top Croke Park officials, but it has been in place in some form or other since 2006 and was re-tweaked in 2010.