Alex Auld: He’d never heard of hurling but is 'loving it' now

Hurling is regularly touted as the greatest field sport in the world but Canadian ice-hockey veteran Alex Auld reckons the reality is that not many know about the game outside of Ireland.

The high-profile Sky TV deal, which broadcasts Championship games abroad, and the popular GAAGO service, as well as the proliferation of new clubs across various continents, have all combined to spread the small ball gospel globally.

Yet Auld, who played 237 games in the NHL in a professional career spanning over a decade, admitted he had never even heard of hurling until a few weeks ago.