Once upon a time hurling had four provincial championships.
Today we have Munster and the rest of Ireland we call Leinster. Nearly a 150 years after the founding of the GAA, hurling still receives more lip service than leadership: a hardy flower surviving on resilience and remarkably it still blooms.
In recent years concerns about the games growth felt like whispers carried in the wind. Similar questions are now emerging from different corners. Not enough? But enough to suggest more people to look in the same direction.
The microwave championship means that hurling's brightest and most effective salesperson goes dark in many places before summer has properly begun.
For a game that needs to grow, voluntarily disappearing from the shop window until the cold, mucky opening rounds of next year's National League, that feels like a curious strategy. The games are condensed into a short schedule with little promotion and a looming paywall. Is it fair to ask what is the strategy for growing hurling?
On the bright side Dublin have undoubtedly improved. A full house in Parnell Park was rewarded [against Kilkenny]. In Brian Hayes (pictured below) they have a player blessed with both speed and skill. Dublin's defensive transformation has been a huge change from the naivety of last summer. Now is the time for Dublin to press on; they belong at hurling's top table.
Offaly's return to the All-Ireland stage is equally welcome, which brings us to Kildare. Twelve months ago they were beaten by Kerry in the opening round of the Joe McDonagh. Kerry dropped a grade and Kildare were promoted - and their development continued. Now Kildare are heading straight back down. The question is simple. Should a developing county's status be protected for at least another year? Can that be done? Hold that thought.
Let's have a look at this weekend.
The U-20 repeats the minor final won by Clare three years ago. Surprisingly Galway are chasing a first title at this grade in 15 years while Clare arrive buoyed by a memorable Munster title and we slightly fancy them.
Kerry play Derry in the Christy Ring Cup final hoping to bounce straight back up to the McDonagh tier. Derry have been Kerry's only problem this spring. It's not that long ago since Derry won back-to-back Ulster Championships and they've won a couple of Nicky Rackards since then. That decline should be as alarming as when their footballers fell away. Kerry's experience gets the nod.
The Lory Meagher final is between Leitrim and Longford, two teams the GAA attempted to remove from league hurling just three years ago. Yes, you heard correctly and we remember.
Leitrim narrowly beat Longford in the round-robin but Longford have the greater scoring power.
Let's look at the Rackard final between New York and Tyrone and keep Kildare's plight in mind.
New York are in this weekend's final looking for back-to-back promotions having just played three championship games across the last two seasons. If they, win, they'll continue to benefit from structural protection unavailable to counties at home. To promote hurling in the Big Apple, competitions can be reshaped. For Kildare there is no such flexibility. It's sink or swim.
The good news is that Croke Park don't consider any of this weekend's final worthy of the paywall. They are, however, worthy of your attention. Get out and support those keeping the flower alive.
Dónal Óg Cusack was speaking on Morning Ireland
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