Worrying slip in standards of hurling officials

Summer is almost upon us but forgive me if I’m not of a sunny disposition. The standard of hurling refereeing is slipping and I fear it could have a major bearing on what we see in the coming weeks.

It’s not because I’ve gone or that Barry Kelly, James McGrath and Diarmuid Kirwan are no longer there: it’s because the talent coming through is not strong enough, not at county or provincial level, which is worrying.