Appeal for open draw in minor hurling

The call by Leinster Council secretary Michael Delaney for the scrapping of the provincial championships at minor and under 21 in favour of an open draw is worth serious consideration.
Delaney was honest enough to admit that his proposal will hardly even get out of the starting blocks due to the power of the lobby in favour of retaining the Munster championship.
However, even those who love the Munster championship, and I am a big fan given that it is the only competitive provincial championship left in hurling, must know that top-flight hurling is losing its appeal for the lack of any true rivalry outside the deep south.
Kilkenny have left all their Leinster rivals completely in the shade and although Dublin have made advances in their youth set-up it will be some time before the Dubs are fit to put it up to the Cats.
Delaney’s idea of giving teams at least four competitive games in an open draw format in the minor and Under 21 grades will at least give the unfancied sides more games against top-class opposition and might also improve the standard of the also rans in Leinster.
Sides like Offaly, Laois and Antrim need to be able to test themselves against the cats, Tipp, Cork and Galway on a regular basis if they are to have any chance of going into senior without an inferiority complex.
Michael Delaney has tried to open up a debate about a sacred cow in hurling but his promptings are liable to fall on deaf ears.