TOUGH GIG…Sorting the Belfast problem will take a lot of time and effort, according to John Martin

GAELIC Life hurling columnist John Martin has warned that the road to developing Belfast into a hurling stronghold will be long and arduous.

In today’s edition, Martin reflects on the initiatives that have been tested in recent years, to little success, and suggests that many more hurdles must be cleared.

“There are many issues for hurling in Belfast but the fact that there are so many primary schools without a hurl in them is probably the single biggest factor, along with lack of volunteers,” he said.

“I would warn them that, funding or not, it won’t be easy. I’ve been in every primary school in North
Belfast, including those schools where Ulster GAA coaches have been working.

“The return in terms of getting players from school to club is minimal. It’s like pulling teeth at times. Where a hurling culture doesn’t exist in an area, it takes time to engender one.”

The full column is in today’s paper, in shops now or available online here.