McNulty talks up benefits of qualifiers

LAOIS boss Justin McNulty reckons his side can benefit from a run through the qualifiers and they might even be better off than teams that go through the front door.

Echoing the sentiments expressed by Kerry’s Colm Cooper a few weeks ago, McNulty suggested the current championship structure left players with too much inactivity. And although coming through from the qualifiers to reach the knockout stages is difficult, the Kildare team managed by his great friend Kieran McGeeney, took that path to the semi-finals so he knows it is not impossible.

“It’s a totally different kettle of fish but in a way it’s better,” said McNulty, who has experienced the back door from his playing days.

“These guys are footballers. That’s what they’re here to do. They want to be playing more often than the current championship system possibly allows.

“Two, three games a year is not worth all that training. Premiership soccer teams play once or twice a week. Why can’t GAA teams play at that level as well? Once every week, two weeks; that’s certainly not overloading in my mind.

“So long as we don’t carry injury problems I don’t see that as being problem I see it as being an exciting challenge and an exciting opportunity.”

Despite their obvious superiority for most of the game against Tipperary, McNulty had used three subs by the 47th minute. It seemed like an attempt to maintain a hunger and intensity, a bid to prevent that dominance from inducing any form of slacking off.

Certainly, Gary Kavanagh had an impact, playing an embryonic role in the move that led to Colm Begley’s game-ending 53rd minute goal. Padraic Clancy had done well at midfield but with George Hannigan exerting a greater influence in the early stages of the second half, the veteran was hauled off for the fresh legs of Kieran Lillis, 10 minutes into that latter period.

“This is not a 15-man game,” said McNulty. “It’s a squad game and we’ve full confidence in the squad. We’ve strength in depth and we know we can call on any guys in any future match and know that they’ll do a job equally as well as the guys who have started.”