Sports
Hurling Clubs have nowhere to hide in crunch ties
CLUBS lay it all on the line in the second round of the senior hurling championship this weekend as they look to save their season by claiming the coveted win to secure summer action and a place in the group stages . . . and, more importantly, see them avoid the threat of relegation.
However, it would appear the honeymoon period for the current SHC format – adopted on the recommendation of the 2011 Galway Hurling Review – is well and truly over as the majority of club managers involved in the second round registered their disdain for the structure on a number of grounds this week.
Among those to call for change was All-Ireland winning club manager John Burke, whose side, should they fail to win either of their preliminary or second round games, could end up in relegation just 14 months after they claimed the Tommy Moore Cup.
He questioned the fairness and merits of a system that ends six clubs interest in the championship by the second week in May and this was a view espoused by a number of other teams’ mentors.
Of course, the Hurling Board has already initiated a process seeking proposals as to the re-formatting of the structure in the future and, given the stringent views of the people at the coalface this week, there certainly appears to be a mood for change in the air.
Full preview in this week’s Connacht Tribune