Preliminary quarter-finals sops must be for chopping board

Hurling development served better by later McDonagh Cup final.

QUARTER-FINALS: GAA president Jarlath Burns and others have intimated another attempt will be made to do away with them. For the game’s sake, they better not miss the next time. Pic: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile

In the space of 12 months, Offaly went from being obliterated by Tipperary in an All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final to putting up a fight against Cork.

What was the reason for narrowing the gap by 23 points? The title of Joe McDonagh Cup champions? Last year, they faced Cork in Tullamore the weekend after they beat Laois having lost to Carlow in 2023 before meeting Tipperary there. They were undoubtedly evolving.