Ryan: GAA may have to start hurling league earlier

The GAA will have to look at starting the Allianz Hurling League before Christmas to avoid fixtures pile-ups like the one caused by last Sunday’s string of postponements, Waterford County Board chairman Paddy Joe Ryan has suggested.

Although cognisant that a return to the schedule which saw the hurling league commence in October and pick up in February the following year would significantly eat into the off-season, Ryan is adamant the current format cannot be retained given that club games, for the second year in a row, have been impacted by the congestion in Division 1A and 1B.