With the GAA inter-county calendar having undergone a significant overhaul in recent years, it remains to be seen what changes will have to be made to various competitions in order to ensure a fair schedule for the involved teams.
The introduction of the split season and All-Ireland round robins has resulted in a very condensed calendar, one that leaves little rest time for players. That is an issue, both when it comes to player welfare and the integrity of some competitions.
For example, league finals have become an issue due to the short space of time between the end of that campaign and the start of the provincial competitions. It has been said that some sides have been attempting to avoid the league final in order to allow more rest for players, pointing towards a big issue in the GAA at the moment.
As well as that, some counties have played weakened teams in the latter stages of the league. That can affect others aspects of the competitions such as relegation battles.
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Peter Canavan calls on GAA to make huge change to league structure
With the new calendar in place, it could be said that some competitions as currently constructed are no longer fit for purpose. That could include the league, where league finals are becoming an increasingly difficult thing to justify.
Speaking on RTÉ's Allianz League Sunday, former Tyrone star Peter Cavanan said that the GAA may have to consider getting rid of league finals, even if it is an unpopular move in some quarters.
The nature of the league with the league finals is that teams that are already through, could play weakened teams.
And that could be to the detriment of some team. It could put some team down.
I would say there would be a lot of support if they decided to look into the structure of the National League, to do away with the league finals. I know that mightn't go down well in some quarters.
The integrity of the competition is paramount and at the minute I don't think you're getting that.
And if it was a straight race to the top, then Kerry would be going out trying to win their last game, Donegal and Armagh likewise in their last game in Division 2.
This argument makes sense.
Not only would it clear up the calendar a bit, but as Canavan points out, it could also encourage counties to play their strongest team in every league game, increasing the integrity in the latter stages of the competition.
With so many demands placed on inter-county players, this is something that the GAA should considering looking at.
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