Allianz National Hurling League 2024

[peddlerscross]

@Cheasty

Every so often in hurling, teams from weaker counties get patronisingly talked up - “there’s some great work going on in hurling circles in Westmeath”, “Antrim have improved a lot”, “Laois are no pushovers under Cheddar Plunkett”, “Laois have improved out of all recognition under Eddie Brennan.”, etc., etc. (similar to how you’d hear the rugby set patronisingly talk up how Italy had “made great strides” there for a few years, before that lie became a bit too cringey).

And then they run into a team from a strong county, usually Kilkenny, who decide, almost without thinking, that they will casually pulverise one of these “no pushover” teams, just 'cause, ah shure look it, why not.

It’s an important part of traditional dominance to nonchalantly fumigate any semblance of hope in traditionally weaker counties every so often.

The Ballyhale captain will go into the Clough Ballacolla dressing room (or reserved bit of car park/beside a wall/behind the ditch/whatever it is) after this and tell them they’ve made “great strides” this year. He’ll tell them they’ve done their county and their parish proud, and that there are good hurlers in every county. Then he’ll walk away chuckling silently to himself.

@Cheasty nailed it a few years back. Trying to grow the game in these weaker counties is just doomed to failure.