The old saying of 'if you're good enough, you're old enough' seems to be more true now than ever in the GAA world. Senior county panels are stacked with young talent, with many being trusted by managers across the country to perform on the biggest stage.
There is just one thing that gets in the way of elite youngsters from performing in this year's provincial Championships, and it has angered some senior managers.
If players opt to represent their counties at U20 level, they are unable to play for the senior team within a seven-day window and with games coming quick and fast, many are missing out on being part of some big clashes.
Conor Laverty manages both the Down U20 and senior teams and he was left feeling bittersweet after the U20s won the Ulster Championship.
Four members of the squad are now ineligble to face Armagh in the Ulster Senior Football Championship semifinal after lining out in the U20 final.
Conor Laverty slams U20 rule
Speaking to TG4 after the game, Down boss Conor Laverty blasted the rule, claiming that it's a "disgrace" that the younger players are ruled out of Sunday's game.
I think it’s a disgrace that the young fellas aren’t able to play
Lads can play in competitions earlier in the year night after night, come to training and whenever it comes to the biggest days of the year that they’ve worked hard for all their lives, the young lads are deprived. We’re depriving our most talented players of that chance.
We should have some lads playing last weekend and playing tonight and playing at the weekend. It’s very unfortunate for them. I feel that the GAA have put in a rule there that they haven’t put much thought into and it’s really disappointing. It was a very hard decision and we asked the players themselves and took their thoughts into consideration. Only one of the lads would have been in the mix to start.
We felt we had to be true to them and maybe let them play out their last time at underage.
Conor Laverty also spoke about the need to move the U20 season forward in 2024, so games don't clash with senior fixtures.
I understand the split season and I think it’s a brilliant idea, but there is a window where we could go with an U20 championship that bit earlier and take the sting out of whenever the main championships are on. Or else, just have common sense. Managers have a lot of sport science behind them these days and have the best people around them. I think we would all use our own common sense when lads can play and when they can’t play.
At the end of the day, a manager’s job is to put his player’s best interests at heart. I totally expect that those lads on my panel would be able to play two games in seven days.
Bainisteoir buacach an Dúin, Conor Laverty 🔴⚫
"The lads showed good experience in the last to see it out", Down manager Conor Laverty, after an excellent comeback win for @OfficialDownGAA @UlsterGAA @EirGrid #GAA pic.twitter.com/n8TNuDwRy9
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) April 26, 2023
An earlier start to the U20 championship would certainly help managers and players without them having to decide which team to play for, but whether Laverty's suggestions will be followed is yet to be seen.
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