Gaelic Games National Hurling and Football League finalsKeith Duggan hears Seán Kelly's concerns about the increasingly sidelined club championship

GAA president Seán Kelly issued a direct plea to intercounty managers to release players for club championship matches to avoid the congestion that has dogged the calendar in recent years.

He was speaking at yesterday's reception to honour the four managers involved in the weekend's Allianz National Hurling and Football League finals.

"Because of the increased number of games, we are obviously having difficulty in working out a programme for clubs," he said.

"Managers naturally have to think of their teams and nobody is going to thank them purely for allowing club games to be played, but, at the same time, we have to strike a balance.

"If occasions arise where clubs can be accommodated - particularly in relation to players less likely to be playing on the county team - managers ought to let them play.

"If you consider the situation of a panellist who is not playing for the county and yet is unable to play for their club, they will often get just two or three games a year."

The decision to run the National leagues from January through to May has given the competitions new momentum, but inevitably placed an added burden on the GAA's already crammed schedule.

With the increasing profile of the intercounty games, it is not uncommon for club games to be postponed for weeks and months on end with the consequence that club players feel disenfranchised.

"I remember an article by Liam Griffin addressing the possibility that the Wexford hurlers would be ring-rusty leading into last year's All-Ireland championship semi-final," said Kelly.

"He said that would not apply to Kilkenny because Brian Cody had allowed his players to participate in club games in order to keep them fresh. And that proved to be the case as Kilkenny went on to take the All-Ireland."

Cody endorsed that view. Seeking to defend their league title on Sunday, Kilkenny have in effect balanced a dense club and county schedule for two seasons.

"We'd always allow club games to go ahead and I think the day that county teams try to go ahead at the expense of club games will be a bad one for the association."

Expanding on Kelly's point, he pointed out that club games were invaluable in aiding the development of young players and those on the fringe of the county scene.

However, Cody's faith in the league has been responsible for a general and positive shift in attitude towards the competition.

Kilkenny used last year's hurling programme to introduce a number of young players who subtly blended into the core of the successful championship team.

That pattern has been repeated this year, with Tommy Walsh the most obvious candidate for a berth on Kilkenny's summer team.

Measured in his praise of the versatile youngster, Cody calmly dealt with the latest round of queries into his relationship with county captain Charlie Carter, who has failed to nail down a permanent starting slot in recent league games. Somewhat wearily, the manager confirmed there was no problem.

"None whatsoever. It's very clear - as far as I am concerned, the reason I am here is because I am manager and with that comes the responsibility to pick the team as I see it along with the other selectors.

"And the ruthless thing is amusing. It's a simple word to throw around. I haven't seen the definition of it yet, but whatever it is, we pick the team as we see it.

"Tensions come and go. I mean, I was a player myself, a sub myself and I know what it is like not to start. We have 30 players at training and every single one of them would love to play.

"Regardless of personalities or who they are, what keeps them there is the desire to play and the belief that they are good enough. So, in that way, I love to see substitutes disappointed at not being picked."

Tipperary hurling selector Liam Sheedy admitted that league honours would represent a welcome start to their period in charge.

"Getting to the final was a goal that we set out and we are happy definitely.

"Nicky was probably a hard act to follow and it was a bit of a pressure cooker situation coming in. But we are in a situation now where there are national medals at stake and we will go out to try and win."

Laois manager Mick O'Dwyer also made an appearance, as did his adversary for Sunday's National Football League final, Mickey Harte.

Tyrone, defending league champions and one of the most accomplished league counties of recent times, have surprised nobody by returning to this stage.

Laois's run under O'Dwyer has added a splash of novelty to the play-offs and offers a hint that the county is at last on the verge of delivering on its huge underage potential.

"I don't think it is any different to any other team or final that I have been involved with," commented O'Dwyer. "If it comes, it comes. Our first game was against Longford in the O'Byrne Cup and we didn't do too well. And a lot of Laois people on the way out that day said it's going to be the same old story.

"But I never had much time for O'Byrne Cups or things like that. I like national championships and the league is there to be won now and that's what we set out to do."