Martin Fogarty mystified by hurling's case of the shorter stick

Former hurling development manager Martin Fogarty fears shorter hurleys are bad for the game

SHARP SHOOTER: Aaron Gillane of Limerick prepares to take a free during the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Semi-Final match between Limerick and Galway at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

It’s with a sigh that Martin Fogarty absorbs the proposed topic of conversation. The curious case of the diminishing hurley, the growing number of leading inter-county hurlers using shorter pieces of ash. Discuss.

“I have very strong feelings about it,” says the former Kilkenny selector and ex-national hurling development manager. “I was walking with my grandson in the woods yesterday and I met a fella from the neighbouring parish. He’s 5ft10 and had a 30-inch hurl. I would have taught his father and I said to him laughing but making a point at the same time, ‘Can I give you a bit of advice? Grow that hurl.’