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COLIN FENNELLY says the All-ireland club series should be completed before Christmas – so that county players can take part in the Allianz League.
Fennelly fired two points on Sunday as Ballyhale Shamrocks claimed a record ninth AIB Leinster club title.
Their reward is February 9 All-ireland semi-final clash with Ballygunner though if they win then county players like Fennelly, TJ Reid and Joey Holden could miss the entire League.
The League semi-finals take place on March 16 – the day before the All-ireland club final.
It’s not ideal for Fennelly, 29, who missed all of the 2018 League due to a peace-keeping tour to Lebanon with the Defence Forces and only started two Championship games.
Fennelly said: “We thought the All-ireland was supposed to be all played out in one year, that’s the way it should be. It’s just the way it is.
“We’re probably the ones losing out from it, that we don’t get to play with our a county, we don’t get the League matches.
“It’s a transition then coming from club to county. No matter how good you are playing, it’s a transition because it’s a step up in standard straight away.”
The Ballyhale players will almost certainly be spared by Kilkenny boss Brian Cody for the first two League games against Cork and Clare at least.
Four-time All-ireland winner Fennelly said: “I presume it will be like that, that’s the way it always has been. I presume we’ll be talking to Brian. I don’t want to miss out on the League but then what a place to be, in an All-ireland semi-final.
“I love playing with Kilkenny, I love playing the League matches because the games have a massive bearing coming into the Championship. I don’t want to miss too much of that but I can’t complain, I’m in an All-ireland semi-final.”
Ex-all-star Fennelly drilled two points on Sunday as Ballyhale secured back-to-back 16point wins in the Leinster Championship to claim the title in style.
They outscored Dublin’s Ballyboden St Enda’s by 1-16 to 0-3 from late in the first-half, underlining their All-ireland credentials.
Bookmakers responded by installing them as joint favourites with Ballygunner for the All-ireland. Fennelly said: “I’ve been talking to lads and they’re already saying, ‘Ballygunner next’. Straight away they’re thinking about it. They’re a massive team, they’ve been knocking on the door for the last few years so it will be a huge game.”
Sunday’s demolition of Ballyboden means Ballyhale boss Henry Shefflin has won county and provincial titles at his very first attempt.
Fennelly said: “When Henry Shefflin talks to you it’s enough inspiration in itself. I’m sure all the young lads look up to him, I still look up to him, I played with him for years but I still look up to him massively. When he speaks, you
listen.”
We thought the All-ireland was supposed to be all played in one year, we’re probably the ones losing out
St Thomas (Galway) v Cushendall (Antrim), Ballygunner (Waterford) v Ballyhale Shamrocks (Kilkenny)