Committee to examine format of NHL

The Hurling Development Committee (HDC) is set to re-examine the format of the top tier of the National Hurling League, after managers registered their dissatisfaction with it over the course of this year's campaign.

GAA President Sean Kelly admitted that there was an urgent need to redress the balance between competing counties.

He said: "We will be asking the HDC what they feel needs to be done and if they feel change is needed and the will is there then that can be accommodated."

However, the president praised the new hurling championship format, with the establishment of the Christy Ring and Nicky Rackard Cup competitions.

He said: "I was involved with Kerry for a couple of years and what you would have is fellas busting a gut for the league but, by the time the championship would come around they wouldn’t be interested.

"They didn't want to be getting hammered by the likes of Cork and Tipp. They would concentrate on winning the county with their clubs instead. This gives counties like Kerry something better to aim for."