Why the hurling present could be wrapped better

We haven't yet reached the summer and some teams are already staring down the barrel of championship elimination.

Perhaps not mathematically, but mentally, if certain teams fall to defeats this weekend after first round losses. Such is the nature of this championship beast we have right now.

I am all for the split season as a club player and a hurling fan, but are we expecting top level championship hurling right now in league weather?

It was a wet, cold and miserable night in Salthill Saturday night for Wexford's trip to Galway.

It wasn’t much warmer on Sunday in Thurles for Limerick's defeat of Waterford, and to be honest, I have seen the hallowed turf of Semple Stadium looking better for championship hurling.

This is in no way a dig at the grounds people, there but more so that the weather hasn’t allowed it to flourish and grow just yet.

Irish weather means we could have wind and rain in summer months, but at least you’d be able to feel your hands.

What I’m saying is I love the present, but maybe it could be wrapped a bit better.

Pushing the start of the hurling championship back a few weeks would only have a small impact on the club scene.

If club championships were to begin the mid-August, rather than the end of July, they could still be run off smoothly and finish up at the same time in October.

The only counties affected would be the two that reach the All-Ireland final, a small price to pay in the overall scheme of things.

For example, here in Tipperary the club championships are scheduled to get started on 30 July, a week after the All-Ireland final.

If the Premier County managed to get to the final, there would be no issue with pushing those games back a couple of weeks, mainly because most of the county could still be