Donegal hurling 'making progress'

Campbell says Donegal children are catching the hurling bug

Donegal hurling manager Eamonn Campbell believes that the Caman game is making genuine progress in the county.

Campbell's side make their entry into the new-look Ulster Senior Championship when they face Monaghan at Clones on Saturday (1545 BST).

"A lot of good young players are coming through," Campbell told BBC Sport.

"The Finn Valley has become a hurling stronghold. If you go through any of the small towns there, you'll see young kids with hurleys and the sliothar."

Campbell says the Ulster Council's "courageous" decision to open up the championship to all nine counties will give further encouragement to the minnows.

"There's not going to be any benefit to Antrim but it's going to give the weaker counties an opportunity."

606: DEBATE Give your thoughts on Gaelic Games

Donegal is a major football power but Campbell's goal over the next two years is to pull together a panel of players that only play hurling.

"Football does create problems but I think that's receding.

"The work is being done at underage level.

"(The Ulster hurling development officer) Frankie Quinn and the Ulster Council have to be commended for some of the decisions they have taken in relation to under-16 development and the six-week camps during the summer.

"A lot of work is being done in the schools as well and the opening up of the Ulster League has been a huge benefit to us as well."

Campbell also says that the standard of underage coaching has "improved immensely".

"It's good to see a lot of young coaches coming through."