Peter Canavan is a big fan of the recently introduced tiered system for the All-Ireland competition, however, the former Tyrone star forward is not yet willing to sacrifice the provincial championships, which he believes still have an important role to play.
Canavan highlighted one-sided games from the weekend's action as a prime example of why the tiered system, and the introduction of the Tailteann Cup in football, has proved beneficial and aspirational for teams who have completed their National League campaign.
Canavan maintains a special pride for his five Anglo Celt medals for winning the Ulster championship and believes that the provincial pride remains, as was evident in recent games in his home province as well as the Connacht clash between Galway and Roscommon at the weekend.
And the RTÉ GAA pundit firmly believes that the provincial competition will remain relevant until such a time that teams start to take their focus off such fixtures.
"Regarding the debate on the merits of the provincial championships, I totally get it that people think we should go straight from the league to the tiered system," said Canavan, speaking on 2FM’s Game On.
"But we have a proud history in the GAA and I’ve spoken before about the importance I have in my provincial medals, and you treasure those games.
"So at this stage, I think it would be a risk just to throw everything out.
"I know we are trying to get the best out of both worlds at the moment and I think we should give it time to see if it works.
"There may be a case in a couple of years where teams disregard the provincial competition and put out a second team, and if that is the case then it has to go.
"But look at Tyrone and Monaghan last week, were those teams thinking of the bigger picture or where they trying to win a provincial title.
"Roscommon and Galway on Sunday, were they thinking of the bigger picture or was their minds and focus on winning provincial honours?
"So I think it does mean something for teams to win a provincial medal and until such a time comes that that’s not the case then I think we should give it a chance, at least."
Canavan referenced Kerry’s big win over the weekend against Tipperary, as well as Dublin’s demolishion job against Laois in Portlaoise to highlight the need for the Tailteann Cup.
The Errigal Ciarán clubman also emphasised the importance of the Allianz League, which offers teams competitive action in whatever division they are playing in, and believes that there is now a natural continuity for county sides as they move into their respective All-Ireland campaign.
"I think it badly needed to be tiered for the simple reason that there were too many championship games that were very one-sided," said the two-time All-Ireland winner.
"And you look at what is happening already with Kerry and a landslide victory they had and Dublin’s game against Laois.
"When you have a Division 1 team against a Division 3 or Division 4 team there is only going to be one outcome.
"If you look at the National League where teams are playing teams of similar ilk. They are competitive and they are competitive across all divisions. And teams learn from that.
"Virtually every team has a chance of promotion or winning their league, but then how many teams will then say, 'that’s us, there’s not a chance that we can win the Sam Maguire?’
"So with the introduction of the Tailteann Cup it gives a lot of those teams some hope now, and they are taking part in a competition that they think they can win."
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