WHY NOT TRY SOMETHING A LITTLE UNIQUE

DIFFERENT Last year’s final was played the week before Christmas

PAT NOLAN

BY

SCRAPPING the League for this year and staging an open draw Championship is the only way for the GAA to go, says Brendan Devenney.

With no inter-county games likely to take place before May, the former Donegal star feels that the GAA shouldn’t try to squeeze a League campaign in and strongly advocates running the Championship only before leaving the second half of the year to the club scene.

He said: “I think this is the way forward. I know the second tier Championship is depending on your League but we should just scrap that and look at that next year.

“I think we could get innovative here and come up with something that’s interesting. Again, let’s have some kind of open draw. Kerry away to Monaghan in the first round or Dublin in Ballybofey.

“Everyone’s going to be excited to get the GAA back – why just go the normal route? Why not say, this year, let’s do something that’s a bit different, within reason obviously and travel restrictions?

“If it’s opened up and it’s allowed to go to again, let’s take teams out of their comfort zones in provincials and let’s go and do something a bit different, just for this year.

“Not straight knockout, let teams have a second round or have a back door or whatever, I think that’s what they need to do. Seize this chance for something a bit unique. I think that will be a brilliant thing to do just to test it.”

ENGLAND: E Daly; A Watson, H Slade, O Farrell (capt), J May; G Ford, B Youngs; M Vunipola, L Cowan-dickie, K Sinckler, M Itoje, J Hill, C Lawes, T Curry, B Vunipola.

Reps: J George, E Genge, W Stuart, C Ewels, B Earl, J Willis, D Robson, M Malins.

ITALY: J Trulla; L Sperandio, JI Brex, C

Canna, M Ioane; P Garbisi, S Varney; A Lovotti, L Bigi (capt), M Riccioni, M Lazzaroni, D Sisi, S Negri, J Meyer, M Lamaro.

Reps: G Lucchesi, D Fischetti, G Zilocchi, N Cannone, F Ruzza, G Palazzani, T Allan, F Mori.

Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)