No pre-season competitions presents major opportunity for third level GAA

"This is an opportunity to let players enjoy third-level without playing a whole host of inter-county fixtures at the same time. I think it should be grasped and I hope it is respected."

Mark Fitzgerald of UL in action against Diarmuid Ryan of MICL during the 2024 Fitzgibbon Cup final. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

There’s an air of optimism in certain quarters. In others, the approach is to wait and see. All agree, though, there is an opportunity. An opportunity that must be grasped.

The opportunity is to change the usual January conversation. No more lamenting the congested fixture schedule. No more lamenting the squeezing of third-level competitions.