Club players need to be offered more championship action

At this time of year, we’re supposed to be entering rugby country for the next while, but really, can a month that hosts so many county finals be more GAA than October?

The past few weekends have thrown up many fantastic storylines: Cratloe’s double in Clare, Ballincollig winning a first senior title in Cork. There’s been stories of redemption, like Sparrow O’Loughlin, after a disappointing spell over Clare, winning yet another county title with another club in Limerick; Seanie Johnston back winning another county for Cavan Gaels. Even the continued dominance of the likes of Crossmaglen in Armagh, St Brigid’s in Roscommon, St Gall’s in Antrim, Portlaoise in Laois and Corofin in Galway are remarkable achievements and stories in their own right.

Yet for all the bunting and celebrations and battles the club scene throws up in a month like this, it also triggers as many questions about its future and where it will reside in the GAA scheme of things, especially its calendar.