This weekend's All-Ireland hurling final between Cork and Clare will be a huge occasion in both counties. The scramble for tickets is certainly one of the biggest we have seen in recent years, with the pair hoping to end lengthy Liam MacCarthy droughts.
The hype train has kicked into overdrive over the last couple of weeks. Cork are rightly coming down off a massive high after their victory over defending champions Limerick, while Clare will be thrilled after overcoming their recent semi-final issues to produce the comeback win against Kilkenny.
While there has been a huge buildup to this year's hurling final, some people would like to see a change made to the schedule moving forward.
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Anthony Daly Suggests Change To All-Ireland Hurling Final Schedule
In previous eras, the buildup to the All-Ireland hurling final was a lengthy one. Players would often have a gap of up to four weeks between the semi-final and the decider, leaving plenty of time for recovery ahead of the biggest game of the season.
It is unlikely that such a gap will ever be possible again, with the split season and condensed calendar meaning that the game come thick and fast in the modern game. However, some would like to see a small change to the calendar.
Writing in the Irish Examiner, Anthony Daly suggested that having a gap of three weeks between the semi-final and All-Ireland hurling final would benefit everyone involved.
I know the finals will never go back to September but I think a three-week lead in would be far fairer to the players.
It would also give them more time for head-space, even just to embrace the whole sense of importance around how big this whole occasion is...
They have less time to think about it all now but I don’t think that extra week would do anyone any harm. It would also give more time to promote our marquee hurling day.
Finding a gap of three weeks would seem difficult in the current calendar, with the GAA clearly feeling that two weeks is sufficient preparation for an All-Ireland hurling final.
That seems unlikely to change in the near future.
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