Colm O'Rourke has suggested that Cork hurling legend Donal Óg Cusack should spend his time working at underage level in Cloyne rather than aiming digs at the Tailteann Cup.
Last Friday, in his address to the Hurling Nation on Morning Ireland's early sports bulletin, Cusack called the Tailteann Cup "a sort of Gaelic football Grand National for disappointed also-rans".
'Hurling is a wonderful game'
"Imagine me making comments like that about the Christy Ring, Nicky Rackard or Lory Meagher Cups," Meath football manager O'Rourke told Off The Ball.
"I see the Meath hurlers, they played before us on Saturday, and they're out in Dunganny training and putting in similar effort to us. I wouldn't denigrate or run down a second or third tier hurling competition.
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"There is a type of elitist snobbery with some hurling people who think hurling is the greatest game on Earth and that it should be shown on television and promoted. I don't know where this comes from. People like that are better off if, instead of having rehearsed rants on radio and television, down in their club doing a bit of work at juvenile level.
13 May 2023; Aaron Lynch of Meath, left, celebrates with teammate Jordan Morris, after he scores his side's first goal during the Tailteann Cup Group 2 Round 1 match between Meath and Tipperary at Páirc Tailteann in Navan, Meath. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile
"Hurling is a wonderful game, and there's no doubt that as a spectacle, it's fantastic.
"So is Gaelic football. Look at the Ulster final and the tension of it last Sunday. So is basketball, rugby. La Rochelle and Leinster on Saturday I'm will be wonderful.
"The World Cup final between France and Argentina, or tomorrow night Man City and Real Madrid, baseball, cricket - I love all those sports.
"Who is to decide what is the greatest game? I wonder who is the judge of that. Maybe golf is the greatest game of all. It can be played by anybody anywhere in the world from 9 - 90.
"I'm not into making comments about other sports. Everybody deserves equal respect."
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Meath won their opening game of the Tailteann Cup group stage at the weekend, defeating Tipperary 1-19 to 0-11. They play Waterford in their second game this weekend.
"The Tailteann Cup is a flawed competition but it is a great competition for those who haven't got into the All-Ireland. There are very many flaws in it," said O'Rourke.
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