Since 1994 attendances at championship matches have nearly doubled from 289,281 to 543,335 last year. Participation has increased by over 50 per cent with 67,000 new hurlers taking up the sport. There have been a number of factors behind these remarkable statistics.

The base figure is a little low because in 1994 Croke Park was being redeveloped and the capacity at certain big matches had to be curtailed.

Over the period, new teams have emerged from counties with large hurling support. Clare, Wexford and to an extent Waterford have all brought huge crowds to matches.

Clare's propensity for replays has added five additional big matches to the calendar over the past two seasons. [SBX]

Guinness's sponsorship and its early marketing campaign brought hurling to the attention of a new audience and greatly increased the hype surrounding the championship. [SBX]

Live television broadcasts have heightened the profile of big championship matches and helped create an air of expectation - as well as expanding the audience for the game. [SBX]

The introduction of the HDC reforms in 1997 has provided greater novelty and more big matches.