John Allen says hurling is becoming elitist and that the game's structures are stacked in favour of the stronger counties.

Pointing out that the big three of Kilkenny, Cork and Tipperary have between them won 90 of the 126 All-Ireland titles contested since the GAA's foundation, the former Cork dual star says more must be done to promote the game nationally:

"But what about the other teams that take part in this Liam MacCarthy competition, why aren't they winning more often?" he writes in his column in The Irish Times. "Well I don't have the time or the newspaper space to forensically dissect each of those counties' histories but I am of the opinion that they are getting very little help from the GAA (yes, I know, a very democratic organisation).

"But surely somebody of importance and power is aware of the above facts and are also aware that the secondary competition, the national league, as it's currently structured, is anti the promotion of this special game. We now have a situation prevailing where the game is becoming elitist.

"As the league structure stands, counties like Wexford, Offaly, Laois, Carlow, Westmeath and Antrim have very little chance of winning any major trophy and more importantly of promoting hurling in their counties.

"When are we going to see Kilkenny or Galway playing in Antrim again or Tipp going to Carlow or Clare travelling to Westmeath to play in a meaningful game?

"The structure of this present league, where there is no room for error, doesn't give followers enough games, doesn't give managers much scope for experimentation, and is totally stacked in favour of the top six." Tweet

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