Joe Canning: Condensed inter-county season impacting approach to league

RTÉ hurling analyst Joe Canning argues the condensed inter-county season has had a significant impact on how teams are approaching the Allianz League.

While the football league has grown in importance and profile over the past decade, the hurling league has recently gone sharply in the opposite direction, especially since the format was altered from 2020, supposedly at the behest of county managers anxious for a less intense spring programme.

With relegation now not a realistic proposition for the elite corps of nine counties and the league final running close to the start of the provincial leagues, the accusation hovers around that teams are treating the competition as an afterthought.

Limerick's abject displays in the past two league campaigns - which were swiftly followed by All-Ireland victories - have encouraged the narrative. Not only that, but Waterford's league triumph in 2022 preceded an unexpectedly poor showing in the Munster championship. Likewise, 2021 joint-winners Galway fared badly in the subsequent championship.

No longer merely a non-indicator of championship prospects, in the past two seasons, the league has been a negative predictor of summer performance.

Canning, who was unveiled as part of RTÉ's hurling championship coverage for the 2023 season on Sunday, said the altered shape of the inter-county season has meant teams are unable to go "full throttle" at the league.

"I don't know will the league tell a great deal," Canning told RTÉ Sport.

"I think teams will learn a lot from last year, considering Waterford went so well and then were flat in the championship.

"I think teams will be more like Limerick last year, where they're just getting through the league while getting ready for championship.

"With the