But - shock of shocks - I must heartily applaud them for their latest intitiave, hoping to provide an adrenalin boost to hurling in weak counties with the launch of a twinning programme with players from the top tier assisting those in the comparative anonymity of the Nicky Rackard Cup.
Advice, expertise, tactics, training and coaching guidance will all be provided by players and coaches from the Liam McCarthy Cup squads over sessions due to begin sometime this week.
An open draw was used to pair off counties, with the result that Kilkenny will help Donegal, Cork oversee Fermanagh, Tipperary guide the efforts of Monaghan and Limerick lend the benefit of their expertise to Tyrone lads.
The thrust behind the scheme came directly from players in the weaker counties and aims to foster ambition and encourage more participation in the code in areas where it has a tenuous toehold.
Aiding the individual senior squads will be the priority but the GPA is also hoping it will have an impact on local coaches, schools and development squads. Visits will apparently be promoted vigorously by local media in a bid to boost the game's profile.
"There are passionate hurling people doing a great job by keeping it alive in non-traditional counties and in the face of adversity" said GPA chief executive Dessie Farrell. "The onus is on everyone to help with that work. We hope this programme will go a small way to addressing that."
Farrell pointed out that there is already an extensive network of links between the stronger and weaker counties whereby coaches and players give freely of their time, but the twinning idea,
initially for two years, is aiming to formalise such contacts.
Players involved in the McCarthy Cup will take turns travelling to adopted counties and it is hoped trips in the opposite direction will also be accommodated.
"We have already forwarded further ideas to Croke Park. We'd like to see Rackard games staged as curtain-raisers for McCarthy games" said Farrell.
Advice, expertise, tactics, training and coaching guidance will all be provided by players and coaches from the Liam McCarthy Cup squads over sessions due to begin sometime this week.
An open draw was used to pair off counties, with the result that Kilkenny will help Donegal, Cork oversee Fermanagh, Tipperary guide the efforts of Monaghan and Limerick lend the benefit of their expertise to Tyrone lads.
The thrust behind the scheme came directly from players in the weaker counties and aims to foster ambition and encourage more participation in the code in areas where it has a tenuous toehold.
Aiding the individual senior squads will be the priority but the GPA is also hoping it will have an impact on local coaches, schools and development squads. Visits will apparently be promoted vigorously by local media in a bid to boost the game's profile.
"There are passionate hurling people doing a great job by keeping it alive in non-traditional counties and in the face of adversity" said GPA chief executive Dessie Farrell. "The onus is on everyone to help with that work. We hope this programme will go a small way to addressing that."
Farrell pointed out that there is already an extensive network of links between the stronger and weaker counties whereby coaches and players give freely of their time, but the twinning idea,
initially for two years, is aiming to formalise such contacts.
Players involved in the McCarthy Cup will take turns travelling to adopted counties and it is hoped trips in the opposite direction will also be accommodated.
"We have already forwarded further ideas to Croke Park. We'd like to see Rackard games staged as curtain-raisers for McCarthy games" said Farrell.



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