Ciaran Whelan: 2023 campaign will mark beginning of the end for provincial championships

Ciaran Whelan argues this championship season will mark the beginning of the end for the provincial championships.

League winners Mayo begin their championship campaign at home to neighbours and Division 1 rivals Roscommon next Sunday, in what could the first of potentially eight or nine games to reach an All-Ireland final.

In 2023, the provincial championships are merely the prequel to the 16-strong All-Ireland group phase, with the eight provincial finalists, plus the next best seven placed teams in the league, plus 2022 Tailteann Cup winners Westmeath, sorted into four groups of four.

From there, teams are six games away from All-Ireland glory - potentially seven if one is forced to navigate the preliminary quarter-final between 2nd and 3rd placed teams in the groups.

Given the attritional programme of games and the tightness of the calendar, Whelan suspects that elite sides, who are already assured of their Sam Maguire place, may be demotivated for the provincial fare and some may even benefit from the break afforded by an early loss.

"When you look at it in the context of the new season, can a team really go for everything?" the former Dublin midfielder asked on the RTÉ GAA podcast.

"You've got to remember now, when you come out of the provincial championship, you've six or seven games to win an All-Ireland.

"What's Mayo's goal at the end of the year? It's to win an All-Ireland or be there contending in the last three or four.

"I think we're putting a little bit too much weight on the provincial championships and I think next week might be the beginning of the end for them.

"A loss in the provincial championship, while you might be disappointed with the performance, might just suit some teams. If Mayo were to lose (against