Former Kilkenny star Tommy Walsh joined a special Off the Ball preview ahead of the National Hurling League Final between Tipperary and Kilkenny this weekend.
Despite the clash between the Premier County and the Cats this weekend being the focus of the discussion, the club/county balance still isn't right within the GAA but Walsh suggested both sides need to come together to find a workable solution.
"The first thing I would say is that I wouldn't blame anybody here - I think we're all in this together.
"You look at Paraic Duffy, who probably would have received some criticism over the last few months but if you look at his credentials - he's a massive club man up in Monaghan but he got the job in Croke Park and a lot of his time was devoted to that job before and after that so when he goes home to Monaghan where he's going home to live - I'd say he'll be a massive club man again.
"I know the guys in the Kilkenny County Board as well and they're all big club guys so this is not about blaming anyone - we need serious work here. We need come together - both the club and the inter-county.
"It's always kind of pitted "club versus inter-county" and I don't see it that way. I mean I was a massive Kilkenny man when I was hurling with Kilkenny but I always wanted to be a massive club man as well.
"I don't think we should pit it "club versus county" - it should be intertwined - we need to work together to sort this.
"This club-only month, to me anyway - it hasn't worked. Fair play to people for trying it and coming up with ideas - I think it was the CPA who came up with the idea and more power to them - I don't mind anyone once we are trying things but I don't think this has worked.
"We're back training since January - we've won one game because of the snow and getting to the league final - I think Kilkenny were out in early May so we've had one match while training for three or four months and then off for two months again.
"So, I think serious work has to go into what we're going to do. I think it's for a guy like a brilliant mathematician - I think this is a problem where we have a certain amount of time - like how many matches are we going to play? How many are we going to solve this?
The full discussion is available here:
