Jim Gavin: What’s the rush with League kick-off?

Jim Gavin has questioned beginning the league so early in the year. For the second year in succession, Dublin commenced their Division 1 campaign in January much to Gavin’s frustration.

Speaking about Kerry returning from their team trip to Miami earlier last month, he said: “It must be difficult for them. They’re only back from their holidays. That’s a challenge. We’re making the season longer. It’s taking away from players. They should probably be with the clubs at this time of year.” Gavin would like to see the league started in late March.

“Any time after St Patrick’s Day would do me fine. There’s a lot going on with players in all counties between Sigerson, Fitzgibbon. A lot of club teams are back now. We’ve got a pre-season tournament. The club championships are on, which is a fantastic competition.

“So the Árd Stiúrthóir and the Uachtarán have said there won’t be any more fixtures added to the fixture list of inter-county football. If that’s how they have decided things are going, that’s fine, shorten the season and give the players back to the clubs. Let them do their pre-season with the clubs.”

Gavin believes Dublin had a week or two’s extra training over Kerry because they returned from their team holiday in early December. Eamonn Fitzmaurice said Kerry don’t have such a luxury.

“When you’re playing club football in Kerry up until the middle of December, then you can’t. That’s the barrier. You can’t go in December because you have 10, 12 players involved in divisional finals. But absolutely, I do think it would be a better alternative.”

Fitzmaurice reiterated the main tranche of established Kerry players won’t return until March while Gavin anticipates Brian Fenton and Kevin McManamon will be in the shake-up for Saturday’s trip to Castlebar.

“Brian is very close. I think it’s a game too soon. We’ll see now Tuesday night, he’s back on the pitch involved in the various exercise that we do. They’re all back. It’s obviously going to be a very competitive game and again it’s trying to blend and give guys who didn’t get game time today, try to get them the opportunity as well. It’s something we’ve to consider.

“Kevin was with the Templeogue basketball team in their National Cup final victory. He’s a sports psychologist, that’s his profession now. He’s doing very well for himself. But (I) hope to see him back, he’s getting very close to it now.” After his cruciate injury last year, Eoghan O’Gara is expected to return to action in the latter rounds.