"Common sense has to prevail in these situations," says Damien Comer. The problem: he's talking about the GAA where despite there being an obvious, more direct route to take, the circuitous one is regularly chosen.
This weekend, Galway play Roscommon in the final round of FBD League games. As the two sides have already qualified for the final, the match is a dead rubber. The obvious solution here would be for the game to double up as the final, giving players another week off in an already compacted GAA season.
Instead, as things stand, the final is scheduled to take place on February 18th - two rounds into the Allianz Football League.
"Ah we're on about compacting games, it's just an extra game, it's pointless," says Comer who was speaking at the launch of the Allianz Football League at Croke Park on Tuesday afternoon.
I think it should all be played off this Sunday and give players a chance to take a weekend off or something, give a chance for recovery in that weekend off during the league. Hopefully, they'll come to a compromise. It makes sense. I don't know which party isn't agreeing to it.
The fact that it's two games, it's more people coming to the games, it generates more gate money, that could be the reason or whatever. I think just for player welfare it makes sense to play it all on Sunday.
It's the same two teams that will be playing this weekend that will be playing in February. So, why not just put it together and have it as the FBD final? I think it makes sense for everyone. You're on about player welfare; that break is nice to get after the first two league game - you get a break, you regroup.
Last weekend, Comer played in a fiery win for Galway against Mayo. Three Galway players, including Comer himself - who had just entered the action as a sub - were shown red cards.
The 24-year-old believes the punishment was harsh.
"I tried to free myself up, the ref said it was a striking action.
"I'm going through on goal but I'm being stopped by a player who's dragging you back. Not necessarily pulling you to the ground but is dragging me back.
"I'm trying to stay going, trying to free myself and you end up being the player that gets punished. It doesn't make sense to me anyway. Look it's done, the official made up his mind and that was that.
Damien Comer of Galway in attendance at the 2018 Allianz Football League Launch at Dublin Port Authority in Dublin. Dublin face Kildare under lights in Croke Park in the opening round on January 27th at 7pm, while Allianz Football League Division 1 holders Kerry host Donegal at Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney on Sunday January 28th and Galway take on Tyrone at Pearse Stadium in Galway. For more, see: www.gaa.ie Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
