Johnny Kelly has stepped down as Galway U21 hurling manager after three years in the role.

In today's Irish Examiner, the Portumna clubman hits out at the All-Ireland U21HC structure, describing it as "archaic".

"My term is up as the Galway U21 manager and it's time to move on," said Kelly, who team lost out to Limerick in last month's All-Ireland semi-final.

"The U21 championship is archaic. It is squeezed in between everything else. The knockout basis gives teams no chance to implement changes for a second game. That flies in the face of player development and the structure that's employed at senior level.

"This year, Waterford and Galway U21 teams had to play U21 championship three and six days after their seniors played in a Munster and All-Ireland semi-final respectively. It proved impossible for those young players to come up to the intensity required in that timeframe.

"You can't take away from Clare and Limerick's victories in those games, but it contradicts the stance the GAA have on player burnout anyway."

Tweet

Most Read Stories