Cork Under-20 football manager Keith Ricken welcomed the ambition to change the GAA calendar, but has serious concerns over the structure of the U-20 Football Championship.
The Rebels begin their All-Ireland defence later this month when they travel to take on the winners of Clare and Waterford, with old foes Kerry on the other side of the draw.
Few expect anything other than a traditional final, but the competition does have a different feel this year concluding earlier than normal, while the GAA has revealed that the All-Ireland semi-finals will take place on St Patrick's Day, with the final a fortnight later.
In 2019 Ricken had five months with the group that would defeat Dublin in the final, but that has been reduced by a month, while the last few weeks have been greatly disrupted by club and college commitments.
Speaking at the launch of the EirGrid U-20 Football Championship, Ricken voiced his concerns over the new schedule.
"I’m not too sure I’m overly enthused with the games on so early," he told RTÉ Sport.
"That’s not being disrespectful to anyone because I know they are making genuine efforts to try and sort out a calendar. It’s a very complex thing.
"I would just have huge concerns that all the football that these young lads are going to play is going to be played in the winter. Ultimately, you only take away experience and memory. The memories these lads will have will be all mud, water and cold.
"It’s fantastic that they can play in Croke Park, but I don’t think they should be hamstrung into St Patrick’s Day. Maybe we need to look at this again and see what is most beneficial for the players.
Is that the best thing we can offer? I would question that
"Are we saying that we are going to play all our championship football, club U-21, U-20, colleges, schools and inter-county for players between 18 and 21, in winter?
"Is that the best thing we can offer? I would question that."
His Kerry counterpart and former Laois senior manager John Sugrue agrees that the format isn’t ideal, but is hopeful it is part of a long-term plan.
"It was probably to avoid the clash with the senior championship," he said. "That happened last year with U-20 players not being able to play U-20 championship.
"It solved that problem, but there is a little bit of a clash with the colleges football, but that is gradually changing as well, so maybe in a year or two we will see the correct calendar of events to allow guys player colleges football and the U-20 championship."
