The Gaelic Players Association (GPA), in association with Halifax, today launched a new hurling initiative aimed at promoting the game in the non-traditional counties.
The Hurling Twinning Programme will see counties from the Nicky Rackard Cup paired with their counterparts at McCarthy Cup level.
Aimed at fostering ambition and encouraging participation in hurling, the Twinning Programme will see counties like Donegal teaming up with Kilkenny and Fermanagh with Cork, for a two-year period.
Advice, experience, tactics, training and coaching guidance will be provided by players and coaches from the McCarthy Cup squads during a number of scheduled sessions.
While the Rackard panel will benefit directly from this link, it is also hoped that local coaches, schools and development squads in the region could also be included during the visits.
It is hoped that by leveraging the talent and profile of the top hurling sides the initiative will promote the game in non-traditional hurling counties.
"The creation of the tiered championship structure has given weaker counties a chance to develop their panels," said GPA chief Dessie Farrell. "Hurlers are fiercely loyal to their sport and one another, so we saw the Twinning Programme as a natural way of harnessing that loyalty to help promote the game in the non-traditional regions.
"To be honest, the top hurlers have been travelling to the weaker counties on a voluntary basis for years. The Twinning Programme is formalising that voluntary effort on a wider scale and hopefully, with the help of the players and the local media, it will help to increase the profile of hurling regionally."
The draw to pair the 24 counties took place recently with the following teams being twinned.
Twinned Counties
Monaghan & Tipperary
Cavan & Waterford
Louth & Clare
Tyrone & Limerick
Donegal & Kilkenny
Non Ards (Down) & Galway
Fermanagh & Cork
Fingal & Laois
Sligo & Offaly
Leitrim & Antrim
Longford & Wexford
Warwickshire & Dublin