No outside players, amalgamations, dealing with the slagging: how the Mayo hurlers are marching on

This weekend will be the county's fourth Nicky Rackard Cup final since 2016.

Nickey Rackard Cup finalist Mayo's David Kenny at Croke Park this week. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

The bottom of the pyramid took centre stage after all the outcry earlier this year about the proposal to drop five intercounty hurling teams from the National Hurling League. What is equally as important is what is going on between there and the golden peak.

One of the primary problems is that hurling lacks a strong middle class. The gap between the elite and the rest is too vast. Outfits like Mayo can rise to that rank. No one expects the county to compete for All-Irelands, but they have the raw materials to form part of a developing tier. That progression is ongoing. In this taxing marathon, they will take a significant step in Croke Park this Sunday.