The stand-off between Kildare and the GAA over the arrangement of Saturday's qualifier for Croke Park is the culmination of a few years of resentment at inequalities in the inter-county game.
We've seen plenty of annoyance among those outside the top three or four at being left behind and the GAA is perceived to be not doing enough to help them.
This particular battle is one that's been coming for a while.
When Cian O'Neill and his players heard the draw yesterday, they were surely delighted with the home draw and were already preparing themselves psychologically for the home game in Newbridge.
Then to have that taken from them with such little consultation - I think it's a case of them saying 'enough is enough'.
Kildare have been very brave in taking the stance they've taken. We saw Kevin McStay and Roscommon taking a strong line on the Connacht final coming to Hyde Park but even they weren't quite as forthright in the end.
The Rossies also had more time to work with. McStay made his comments immediately after they beat Leitrim and there was still ten days between then and the announcement of the venue for the provincial final.
For Kildare to do it six days out from the game and with so little room for manoeuvre is very courageous. In the past, there might have plenty of counties who privately wanted to take a stance like this but weren't brave enough to do so.
I've no doubt, judging by the tone of the comments coming from the Kildare management, that the players are willing to go all the way and tog out in St Conleth's Park on Saturday night against the wishes of the GAA.
They say that every player wants to play in Croke Park and that's true in most cases. But I think for a county like Kildare, who play there often enough in the Leinster championship, the appeal can definitely wear off.
In the case of Cavan, for instance, the attraction of the big day in Croker would probably be much greater but there's little novelty involved for a county like Kildare who've played there so often down the years.
Certainly, I think most players would definitely prefer a home game in a packed out venue to a match in a half-full Croke Park.
That would be a better prospect from an atmosphere standpoint and - far more importantly - from a competitive standpoint.
I think those running Kildare GAA also realised the implications for the Super 8s down the line. One of the big selling points of the Super 8s was that teams would get vital games in their own home grounds at the business end of the championship.
Now we see that if Kildare, and possibly a few other teams, were to reach the Super 8s, then that home game would probably be denied them.
It seems to me that the reasons offered for the switch don't hold water. And I think health and safety can be too easily used as a catch-all explanation in these instances.
Their ground at Newbridge is obviously small but we have to accept that not every fan can get to every game. We mightn't like comparing ourselves to soccer but look at the FA Cup for instance.
If Manchester United get drawn away to Sutton United, they don't move the game to a neutral venue just because Man United would bring a big away crowd. That's the beauty of sport that it throws up things like that.
The answer in the medium term is that the GAA should be supporting counties like Kildare in developing their ground, if it's not up to scratch, so as we can avoid situations like that in the future.
While it's all up in the air at present, I really feel that the GAA will have to back down on this or else they're going to take a ferocious public relations hit.
This is a Mexican stand-off and Kildare don't seem to be willing to bend on this. They are ready to take it to the brink and I honestly think this is one battle that the GAA will lose.
The repercussions from a PR point of view are too great.
And if the GAA do retreat, it will set a precedent for future years. If, as happened this year, Dublin get drawn in the Leinster championship against a team whose home ground isn't perceived to be up to scratch by headquarters, then a Kildare victory on this battle will be cited.
Cavan and Tyrone are also tied up in this on some level but the whole question is far more fraught for them. Breffni Park obviously wasn't going to be available anyway so the alternative was either Enniskillen or, more likely, Clones.
I think whether it was played in Clones or Croke Park won't matter too much to the players. The only thing which might cause a bit of disruption is the uncertainty over where the game will be held as they are two very different pitches.
Perhaps, those two might slightly favour the game being played in Croke Park as it would give them playing time at the venue in advance of possible clashes in the Super 8s.
