The Sigerson Cup’s old format was a phenomenal way to win any competition.
While it was mostly the case that just the semi-finals and final were played on consecutive days, for a few years it was expanded to include the quarter-finals in a three-day festival of football.
In those days the panel would come into its own and in the event of an injury a player stepped into the breach for the biggest occasions in third level football.
The buzz phrase nowadays is ‘player welfare’, which covers anything and everything from physical to mental health and in lots of ways a player-centric approach is what should be expected.
The League takes on added significance in today’s inter-county structure, particularly this year given that many teams are scrambling to qualify for the Sam Maguire Championship via the League.
If player welfare is genuinely aspired to, why would coaches and managers play those players exhausted from Sigerson football – or any game – in such a short time-frame?
If the player was confident enough that the manager would view their honesty about how they were feeling compassionately, there would never be an issue.
However, the truth is that any player going to a manager to tell them they are exhausted is likely to be viewed as ‘lacking character’, ‘too soft’ or ‘unmotivated’.
There were plenty of times down the years when I was tired, sore and injured going into games but I had to just grit my teeth and get through the game.
There are times when the pressure of playing is greater than the guilt you would feel letting yourself, the manager and your team-mates down by not making yourself available.
Most, if not all, players will play without raising an issue.
Many inter-county players see their commitment to the county team as a priority in comparison to university or club football, depending on the level your club plays at.
You may be awarded a bursary when securing third level education but, ultimately, county football is where the prestige is.
Most recipients of GAA bursaries will opt to take the grant funding and tick the box of playing for their university but they will almost certainly do it while understanding that county football trumps all else.
The county manager will want and take their pound of flesh for selfish reasons so they will wonder why they should bend for the universities or anyone else.
The reality is that the bursaries given to GAA players at university are usually necessary to avoid huge debt by the time they finish their studies.
Many athletes do not have the available time in an average week to work part-time.
Other students without these same commitments to their sport contribute towards day-to-day university costs via part-time jobs.
Bursary funding is a very welcome and a much-needed resource for elite GAA players.
While I understand Meath manager Colm O’Rourke’s frustration with the situation, blaming the GAA for scheduling the Sigerson Cup during the League makes no sense.
The adults in the room must consider player welfare.
The adults in the room need to consider the Sigerson players’ workload and not put them in the panel for one or two weekends during the competition.
They need to understand that bursary funding is important to the GAA player.
One of the reasons for carrying a large squad of 30 to 35 at all levels of football and hurling is to have people ready to take their opportunity when it arises.
There is also the theory that no matter how desperate any county team is to secure League points, if the team is so reliant on a university player or two over a few weekends, the problems are much deeper for the manager of that county.
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Armagh are currently one of the best teams in the country to watch.
That will pain many Down supporters, as last weekend’s narrow win over Antrim showed that while we have certainly taken some forwards steps, the Mournemen remain a work in progress.
Take nothing away from Antrim, you have to be fair and say they were the better team on the night and they will rue the missed opportunity to come away from Newry with two points.
I, and many like me, wrongly judged Antrim on their defeat to Offaly the previous week.
However, the Saffrons need points on the board, so glorious defeats are worthless.
Getting back to Armagh, the Orchard secured a point against a Mayo side who will look on the result as a point dropped rather than one gained.
Perhaps coming up the road from the west, Kevin McStay may have been happy with a draw, but having been five points up late in the game they retreated and invited Armagh on.
It is strange because at this stage logic, form and history would indicate to me that Mayo may be in the final eight teams of the Championship, but are unlikely to win the All-Ireland.
Armagh are considered strong contenders for major honours this year.
They have some of the best footballers around but for all their flair they are having to rely on their character and coming from behind in games to salvage results.
It may be coincidental but last season’s All-Ireland quarter-final defeat to Galway was similar to last weekend’s League clash with Mayo.
In both, Armagh needed a free from Rian O’Neill (left) to level things at the end of normal time.
Last season’s defeat to Donegal in the Championship was another disappointing provincial campaign.
Armagh would get their revenge later in the summer but the importance of winning an Ulster title for this group cannot be underestimated.
In short, winning while being the most attractive team in the country is all well and good, but the practicalities of winning titles and trophies rest on the toughness of your defensive capabilities.
It has long been said that forwards will win you games but it is your defence that will win you titles.
Donegal and Fermanagh have secured two points so far but the weekend defeats will sow some doubt now.
The first two League games will always be hugely significant and looking up the table as opposed to looking down is always a key consideration going into the third match.
Tyrone secured their first win when they beat Donegal but Brian Dooher did not sound overly happy afterwards. This is probably a measure of the man himself and his very high standards, with the Roscommon defeat still grating with him.
Derry and Cavan still look early promotion favourites in Divisions Two and Three respectively with Monaghan heading the other way given their current trajectory in Division One.
When we talk about character, Monaghan have led the way in Ulster and it would be naive to write them off just yet.
The outcome of the third League game normally dictates things and should Vinny Corey manage to secure two points against Donegal on Sunday week you wouldn’t bet against them escaping the drop. They have been here before.
