Championship 2004 News: The chairman of the GAA's Hurling Development Committee says next year's new championship structure in hurling is the best way to raise standards in weaker counties. Pat Dunny's comments come after a weekend that produced some horrendously one-sided matches in the first round of the All-Ireland qualifiers.

Tipperary beat Limerick by a point in a thriller at the Gaelic Grounds but the other three matches - Down-Galway, Clare-Laois and Kilkenny-Dublin - ended with average winning margins of more than 20 points.

"I wouldn't take games on a one-year basis in isolation," he says. "It's certainly an indication that they need the time and opportunity to develop more. I'm not so sure that the Clare-Laois result would be replicated if they played again and maybe not the Kilkenny-Dublin result. The more teams play against better teams the more they will improve.

"This was discussed at some length and the committee was of the view that this is the best way to encourage improvement in counties."

Yet the evidence seems to be that counties below the top level, such as the above three defeated sides, are being demoralised by such hidings and that the matches against stronger sides are making things worse rather than better. Dunny isn't convinced.

"I think that's a hurling negative; the positive is that it will give them something to aim at."

Nor does he feel that for the good of the championship the competing counties should be reduced from 12 to a more realistic figure of, say, eight.

"No. That was also discussed but who's to say who the top eight will be from year to year?"

Meanwhile Tyrone have suffered the likely loss of last year's All-Ireland captain, Peter Canavan, from consideration for the weekend's All-Ireland football qualifier against Down.

Canavan hasn't trained since his comeback schedule was disrupted by a fresh injury setback a fortnight ago. He was due to make his first appearance in nine months in the Ulster semi-final clash with Donegal, having recovered from an ankle injury. But he was forced to sit out the game due to a back injury picked up in a club game. The latest knock has forced him out of training sessions as his colleagues prepare for a battle to retain their All-Ireland title. Manager Mickey Harte has conceded the player is unlikely to be fit to play.

"You'll always be hopeful that Peter will be recovered, but it hasn't been easy for him, because he hasn't been able to do any training since he got this second injury. The prospects don't look good for him at the minute that he will be fit to play a big part in the game," said Harte.

"It's a big setback for us, because we were so looking forward to him coming back in the middle of June, and everything was going perfectly well with regard to his ankle injury. But we never anticipated this second injury, but it has happened and it's something we have to live with."

Dublin's Colin Moran was operated on yesterday after breaking his arm last Saturday morning during a challenge match against Limerick and will be out of contention for the foreseeable future.