Split season could lead to mass exodus

THE Championship has crept up on us at all levels. Offaly were out in Under-20 championship on Thursday night, the minors played yesterday – which clashed with the Joe McDonagh Cup opener.

I’m on commentary duty at Walsh Park today for Waterford versus Tipperary. On Monday, we have Féile in Offaly, then the U20 footballers and minor hurlers are in action again.

I look at Roscommon, who were Connacht U20 football champions and All-Ireland finalists and their season is over already – they are gone in April. It’s a little bit overwhelming in how everything is happening all together with the split season.

The players were back training in December – now every team is out every week. It could be all over for a lot of counties very, very quickly.

I’m not sure how it all reflects on the promotion of our games. I know the players will go back to their clubs which is good in theory. Will America be a lure? We could have a Flight of the Earls that could decimate a lot of clubs in early summer. It will be interesting to see how the year as a whole pans out.