Looking ahead there isn't and won't be the population to support a professional inter County football and hurling set up especially as the games are confined to 1 Country.
I suspect that by mid Century you might see top level hurling having some element of semi Professionalism in it like chaps taking time off work for a few months in the Summer and getting compensated.
Unique, historical, cultural heritage etc etc. Have to ensure the best players can devote themselves to improving skills etc.
Even then the Co system will remain but the main 9 hurling Counties apart from Kilkenny have pretty big populations.
The big population differences are among the football Counties and the gap between the smaller rural football Counties and the rest won't be closing any time soon .
The one thing helping us to punch above our weight from time to time is the lack of any other major sport in our Counties.