CHANGES must be made to hurling's Championship format, according to Offaly manager, Ollie Baker. Offaly were defeated by Waterford on Saturday night and will now not have another competitive game until next February. Baker insisted that players deserve better from the gaa and pointed out that Waterford were in the same position. "Michael ryan was facing the same emptiness and hibernation period," he said. "That wasn't going to do them any good. You are talking about a public wanting to see matches, players wanting to play matches." "There is an appetite out there, but the way things are at the moment, it just isn't helping developing teams. "Your chance of doing something is getting beat up. We are fighting a tough enough battle anyway, but it is like hitting a mountain stage in the Tour de France when you are supposed to be sprinting. "It is demoralising for the players, they have given up eight months of their lives."