Enjoyment fading on and off the pitch?

Are more and more players at inter-county level now choosing to live life rather than sacrifice so much for a slight chance of winning the ultimate prize?

Is the craic gone out of top-level hurling - especially if you're not winning or experiencing some type of victory?

I was blessed to be part of a group that were regularly challenging at the business end of the year and we firmly believed every summer we could win an All-Ireland.

We also had a nice break between championship games which allowed us to head out with the group, family and friends and enjoy ourselves.

Nowadays the only thing players can realistically do with another game coming so quick is maybe chance a pizza or taco fries. They’ll be in the following day for recovery, perhaps some video work and onto the next challenge quickly.

Then the most enjoyable part of the year for any player is obviously playing championship games. Big crowds, places buzzing, good weather (mainly), all of the things you work so hard to be ready for.

They are dream days for players. It’s the torture you have to go through to get there that might be swaying lads towards living life rather than living as a professional unpaid athlete.

More and more players are opting to travel or take a year out. It’s across the board except for those at the top of the pile. You won’t see any Limerick lads stepping away from this dream ride or even guys who are on the extended panel choosing to go to Australia rather than to Rathkeale for training.

Why? Because they know their chance of success is so high. Why would you walk away from that?

A lot of people would say it’s all about taking part and maybe up to a certain grade and age it is all about taking part, but that counts for absolutely nothing at the