FEARS for the future of hurling have been expressed in many quarters for many years and yet, as we approach the millennium, it would seem that the ancient game has never been in such robust health.

Even as a fundamental change in the championship structure is about to be put into operation, this year's championship, in the traditional format, has produced some of the best hurling we have seen in many years.

Last year was marked by Clare's first All Ireland title since 1914. This year two splendid matches between Limerick and Tipperary in the Munster final and replay were topped by a brilliant Leinster final, and we now have a final pairing of Wexford and Limerick which promises a stirring encounter.

Fears that live television coverage of matches would drastically reduce attendances have proved unfounded. The Munster final and replay attracted a total attendance of 83,525, the Leinster final between Wexford and Offaly drew a crowd of 34,563 and the double header All Ireland semi finals brought in a record crowd of 61,937 - a grand total for five matches of 180,025 - representing gate receipts in the region of £1 1/2 million.

All of those matches were shown live. The percentage rise in hurling attendances this year is approximately 45 per cent.

Apart from RTE's nationwide transmission of these games, millions of people abroad have been watching hurling, and worldwide interest in the game is growing.

Until 1992 RTE had the overseas rights to the televising of Gaelic football and hurling. These rights were then bought by Chrysalis Television and later transferred to Sterling Productions in Belfast, who brought a new approach to the marketing of the games abroad. In the United States, the GAA, through Sterling Productions, has agreed a deal with a television company, Prime Sports, whose broadcasts are available coast to coast through a network of 24 regional services.

This year's championship matches in hurling and football are being shown live in pubs in Britain, Germany, Belgium, Holland and Spain. The finals will be shown live in Australia. Viewers of Star TV in Asia will get delayed transmission of the finals. SKY TV in New Zealand and Eurosport in Europe and North Africa have a similar arrangement.

In Britain, Channel Four carries a weekly package on Gaelic games as well as delayed transmission of the finals, and Tara Television, an Irish cable station in Britain, shows a weekly package of Gaelic games.

At home, the GAA is putting a huge effort into promoting hurling and is meeting with some spectacular success. Indoor hurling for young boys and girls is attracting more attention all the time. Considerable emphasis is being put on coaching.

Pat Daly, the GAA's Manager of Coaching and Development, explains: "We have a county plan for each of the counties and the emphasis is on getting as many people as possible involved. We have 65 full time coaches and 25 of these are exclusively for hurling.

"There was huge interest in a ground hurling tournament in Clare this year and it was organised in such a way that all 32 teams which took part were involved in it right to the very end," he says.

"Dr Padraig Quinn was the leading lights in this. Ground hurling means that the ball cannot be handled, except by the goalkeeper, and lifting and kicking are not allowed. The youngsters loved being involved, the emphasis was on taking part and enjoyment not on winning.

"The teams were 10 a side with 20 in each squad and unlimited substitution, which meant that everybody played. It captured the imagination of the youngsters and they all got the maximum out of it. There was a crowd of over 1,000 at the final session," he says.

He also refers to the Joe Cooney School of Hurling in Galway which is attracting huge interest. "People like TJ Tyrrell in Mayo and Jimmy Carlisle in Armagh are among many others who are prominent in the upsurge of hurling," says Daly.

"I had a call from a man in Killeshandra in Cavan recently who was amazed to see a group of boys playing hurling in a local field in a part of the country which has no hurling tradition. I believe the great matches we have seen on television are responsible for this."

There are now 32 schools in Sligo playing hurling. Such is the interest there that they are demanding their own coach on a full time basis.

"Six of the schools involved are secondary schools where there was no hurling at all a few years ago," Daly points out. "All the schools have been issued with hurleys and helmets. Again, indoor hurling is attracting a lot of interest.

"A shinty team from Scotland played against Ballyboden St Endas some months ago, and we organised a hurling match under indoor rules for them on the astro turf at UCD and they were very taken by it," he says.

The high profile of the game on television, the Guinness sponsorship of the championship and its marketing strategy, and an enormous among of hard work have been crucial.

Also, somebody up there obviously likes hurling, because in tandem with these developments spectacular championship hurling has attracted more attention than ever before.