People’s game revealed

WHEN the kite was floated on RTÉ about rugby being ‘the people’s game’, those up on their high horse about Gaelic games were quietly reminded about the invisible line that runs across Ireland that divides hurling into the traditional haves and have-nots. All-Ireland game? Sure anything north of the line from Dublin straight across to Galway is traditionally excluded from the Liam MacCarthy Cup contenders.

A national sport where the top half of the country aren’t mapped in senior terms? Well, that doesn’t tell the full picture. At Croke Park on Thursday, the Bank of Ireland Celtic Challenge was launched. It’s a hurling competition for Under17s where 1,250 players on 41 teams from 32 counties will play 135 games ending in five finals. So it’s settled then. Hurling: ‘The people’s game’.