Two-tier championship structure 'completely unbalanced'

We know we're officially in that no-man’s land between league and championship when the debate about provincial structures around the haves and have-nots of Gaelic football is rearing its ugly head once again.

This year, the split season, the now two-tier nature of the championship since the development of the Tailteann Cup along with the more-condensed-than-ever-before inter-county season has made the imbalance of the four provinces all the more apparent, according to the RTÉ League Sunday panel.

Westmeath are immediately out in Leinster Championship action next week against Wicklow, having just lifted the Division 3 trophy by beating Down – something that raised the ire of their manager, Dessie Dolan who described their date with the Garden County as Westmeath's "biggest match of the year".

Down, who will be promoted to Division 2 for 2025, cannot qualify for the Sam Maguire draw as they were not a provincial finalist last year – although Clare can, as they reached last year’s Munster decider.

Down beat the Banner men convincingly in their recent league encounter.

Is a condensed championship an unfair championship? The panel explore the structure of the campaign that lies ahead. #AllianzLeagueSunday #RTEgaa pic.twitter.com/k2e87SjSp0

"We’re constantly talking about provinces and the way they are," Tomás Ó Sé said on Sunday evening’s programme. "You’ve Westmeath who are going into championship next week.

"My issue with the championship is that it all should start at the same time and the games should be spaced.

"There’s teams going off on training breaks while Westmeath are preparing for an All-Ireland championship, it’s completely unbalanced.

"Look at Ulster and compare it to Munster and Leinster at the moment, the preparation