Hurling fans can expect more Championship matches in 2018 – somewhere or other

There was much gnashing of teeth when the Super 8s were announced for Gaelic football.

Defenders of the club game wondered how this was going to unclog the calendar, traditionalists were unhappy with change, as is their wont, and the hurling fraternity feared for their sport. Last month it was mooted that the hurling Championship would get more games and on RTÉ Radio Sunday afternoon the GAA president all but confirmed that change was afoot. The hurling development committee will present their proposals in June but, at this stage, it is still a little unclear where these extra games will be situated on the GAA calendar. Aogan Ó Fearghaíl ensured listeners there would be more games. But will a round robin structure with home and away matches be used in the provincial Championship or, as with the football, in the All-Ireland series? The president seemed to be suggesting a provincial round robin but there is much to be discussed this summer.