Yes, says the newly-appointed national hurling development manager Martin Fogarty.

It's a suggestion that may raise some eyebrows but the former Kilkenny selector made some valid points when speaking to The Irish Independent.

"It's our native game and something that no other country has. And it's our heritage.

"Ask yourself why do we study history, for example? Why do we study wars and battles? Why don't we study something that's alive?

"It's like our Irish dancing or our Irish music. Or art. Why do we paint pictures in schools, why do we play a tin whistle? Why not hurling?

"I would see it down the line, This is just a hope. I'm not going to be able to deliver on that.

"But I would love to see a situation where it's a Leaving Cert subject where you could get points for playing the game, coaching it or maybe just knowing the whole history.

"Unfortunately, like a lot of countries with things that they have, sometimes they don't appreciate them until they are gone. The time to keep something strong is when it's strong.

"Imagine down the line hurling failing and then people trying to retrieve it and revive it. . .

"Take the Native Americans, everyone wants to go over and see how they used to live years ago but they're gone, they're wiped out. The time to keep something alive is when it's alive."

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