John Hunt: 'Hurling is in a shocking and disgraceful state in some counties'

For a man who is set to be involved in the Longford hurling management set-up next year, John Hunt has little time for the county’s attitude to hurling. Ultimately, it may end up costing him but he can’t hold his tongue.

A former manager in Meath and Cavan, he despairs at how the game has been treated in the latter too. Meath, he knows, are making great advances but it’s in the likes of Cavan and Longford where he fears the game is all but dead.

“Somebody has to speak out about the shocking and disgraceful state of hurling in these counties,” he says. “Hurling there is almost extinct. If something doesn’t change, it will be in the next 10 to 15 years. Schools and clubs are the issue and the antipathy shown towards hurling has to be seen to be believed. People in traditional hurling counties don’t understand what’s going on but they should.