Why Hayes is Ireland’s key player

WITH the hurling and football championships now reaching their conclusive stage and the rugby season upon us, thoughts of the forthcoming World Cup are exercising the minds of the sporting public.

From the player’s perspective, particularly those on the edge of selection, the announcement of the panel, on Sunday, will have dominated their thinking for the past three months.

The World Cup is now only five weeks away. This competition has grown from a reluctant beginning in 1987 to where it is now, the third biggest global sporting event behind its soccer equivalent and the Olympic games. For players on this side of the world, their careers will be judged on their participation in Lions tours and World Cups. As both only occur at four-year intervals, the desire to make the plane is huge.