Neil McManus feels an expanded Leinster SHC comprising two groups of four would serve developing counties like Kildare better.

The Lilywhites were relegated straight back to the Joe McDonagh Cup, despite causing problems for both Galway and Kilkenny in this year’s round-robin series.

"If they [GAA] want to genuinely focus on hurling development, you are probably looking at two pods or two groups of teams in the Leinster Championship," the former Antrim sharpshooter said on RTÉ Radio’s Morning Ireland.

"If you value the competitiveness of the championship, you keep it the way it is because there is no doubt about it, Leinster has been phenomenal this year: competitive game after competitive game, upset after upset.

"It's what you value more. If it's hurling development, then it's two groups of four to help Kildare get those games that will make them competitive and be a force in the future - or if we are valuing the competitiveness of the championship then it stays the way it is."

McManus also expressed surprise at the failure of six-in-a-row champions Kilkenny to progress beyond the group stage.

"If you told me at the start of the year that Kilkenny would not be in the three coming out of Leinster, I would not have seen that coming," he admitted.

"Even with their below-par performances you would have still fancied them to be in the three. They were so dominant in Leinster and it's going to take a bit of a rebuild and some reflection. They've been here before and they've built back very successfully and that's what is going to be required again."

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