Killybegs mentor Manus Boyle says championship structure means players are 'hounded'

Killybegs mentor Manus Boyle has hit out at the fact that clubs are being “forced to play four championship matches in four weeks.”

The first four rounds of the SFC are on consecutive weeks with a week's break in mid-September and Boyle said it raised player welfare issues.

“The only people who play week after weeks are professional athletes,” he said after his side’s 3-12 to 1-5 defeat to Naomh Conaill. “We needed six weeks off after the League and then fellas are hounded for four weeks in a row. I don’t think the well-being of players is their consideration, and I think it was partly to suit lads who were in America and different things. I don’t agree with that.

Donegal SFC holders Naomh Conaill get off on the right foot in Killybegs

Although they were hit for an early goal by Hugh McFadden of Killybegs, last year's Donegal SFC winners Naomh Conaill showed their experience and composure to leave Fintra with a comfortable victory

Boyle added that one of the problems in Donegal was also a lack of games over the first part of the season.
“If you are in Kerry you have 24 League games and if you are in Donegal you have 12,” he said. “Why are Kerry constantly good footballers, because they are constantly playing football?

“In Dublin they have winter and summer leagues and their county players are getting the guts of 14-16 club games every year, while our county players are lucky if they get three league games.

Boyle and Killybegs must now lift the spirits for their visit to MacCumhaill’s next weekend. He said: “Apart from Naomh Conaill and St Eunan’s, with the greatest of respect to everyone else, we are all playing catch and they are the benchmark."