THE start dates are drawing closer as both club players and county players get ready to take to the pitch once again. It was announced earlier this week that intercounty challenge matches can take place from next Monday officially. Of course, we all know that these have been happening for a few weeks now.

Just to touch on that before we move on, I understand that the correct message has to be sent out there but surely there has to be more of a common sense approach taken towards these decisions? When the powers-that-be sat around the table at Croke Park to make these decisions and to lobby governments, surely there must have been one sensible person at the table who said, ‘listen guys, these games are going to happen regardless so it’s better we put guidelines in place and allow them to happen safely’.

I can’t for the life of me see the logic in holding on until one week out from competitive action – and after the hurling leagues start – before allowing them to happen. Even though games are allowed to happen from next Monday, I would seriously doubt that any official challenge matches will take place between Monday and the start date of the first games given the way teams now prepare for National League fixtures.

Anyway, rant over as we have more important things to look forward to.

On the county scene we understand that it is going to be a tight push and a demanding schedule for all players. Teams will play three National League games before getting ready to head into knock-out championship football.

I spoke last week about the importance of managing the training and workload of these players and already over the last number of weeks we have heard of key players within county squads picking up niggles and strains.

For these teams, even though they have all the sports science knowledge and expertise in the background, it’s really going to be a case of running the gauntlet this season and hoping for the best. The eventual winners may come from the side with the strongest squad and how lucky they are in terms of managing their injuries.

It has become evident over the last number of seasons that the likes of Dublin can cope with one or two major absentees such is the depth in their panel, but can the same be said of other counties?

Take for example my own county, Donegal. If we were to lose Michael Murphy for a few weeks or the rock that is Neil McGee for a couple of games then we may struggle. Likewise last year when Tyrone were missing Cathal McShane, they struggled to replace that sort of talent so it will be interesting over the next few weeks to see which teams come through unscathed.

I had a quick look around most counties in Ulster this week in terms of how they plan to structure their leagues and championships and most have taken the sensible approach.

Even though technically club championships can start as soon as county teams exist the provincial or All-Ireland series, most counties are opting for a later start date allowing a large number of league games to take place.

For me this is the sensible thing to do as it allows teams to ease themselves into the season before the real cut and thrust of championship football. Most counties are opting for a full round of league fixtures, which will ensure that teams have played anything from eight to 16 games before championship commences.

This allows teams to slowly build the body back up to where it was at when action ceased almost a year ago. That should help with injury prevention now that teams do not have to rush back into action.

From May 10, adult teams will once again take to the fields down here in the south and I’m sure most people are like me, itching to get back out there to see some action. We have waited a long time for this but now that we are finally there it makes it all the sweeter.