Donegal and Carlow exploits sowing seeds for hurling's future

The rise of hurling and momentum gained by some counties has been great to see in recent weeks.

Carlow and Offaly have shown us that they are not just here to take part and that they want to be in the mix come Division 1B final time but it's Donegal that have possibly had the result of 2025 thus far in defeating Kerry at the weekend.

Mighty stuff for all those flying the flag of hurling up in Donegal, in clubs like Burt, Setanta, Aodh Ruadh, Carndonagh, St Eunan’s and more.

It had been a hundred years since a Munster team travelled up to the north-west to play a hurling match so for Donegal to get the victory makes this result even more special for all those involved.

Whether this is more a reflection of how well they have done in the development of their teams in recent years or how poorly Kerry are going will remain to be seen as the Allianz Hurling League progresses, but for now it’s all good for this team of hurlers under the guidance of Mickey McCann, who is to hurling in Donegal what Pep Guardiola was to Barcelona.

He came into the set-up eight years ago and has done such a brilliant job in uniting the club players, especially those from bitter rivals like Burt and Setanta, and getting them to show that when they pull the county jersey over their head that they are one club, one family, all fighting for the same cause.

Not always easy to do, as can be seen in other counties where the divide amongst clubs often leads to certain players opting out county action. So kudos to Mickey, his management team and to the group of players themselves for giving Donegal hurling people one of their greatest days ever.

Let’s hope they can push on now and back this up, with maybe not a victory away to Kildare but another really good