Tommy Martin: Why GAA teams are treating the Allianz Leagues as a warm-up, not a priority

The Allianz Leagues remain underappreciated as teams prioritise the championship, exposing major flaws in the GAA’s scheduling system

BOOBY PRIZE: Mayo will play Kerry in this weekend's Allianz Football League Division 1 final. Pic: ©INPHO/James Lawlor

Poor old Allianz. There has been a lot of sympathy going around for the German insurance giant with the [checks notes] €137 billion market capitalisation, on account of the fact that too many are not taking the GAA leagues they sponsor seriously.

Pat Spillane in the Sunday World summed up the feelings of many when he said that the compressed format of the leagues means that Allianz had been “sold a pup” and have been “short-changed,” which we can all agree is a shocking way to treat a company that made a €16 billion profit last year.