Under-20 rule change welcomed by Kilkenny senior boss

Last weekend’s annual GAA Congress was significant mainly for the appointment of a new president but one rule change that will have major implications for later this summer was the passing of a motion that will see a 60-hour restriction on players featuring in both intercounty senior and under-20 championship fixtures.

A controversial topic for a number of years, you only have to go back to Kilkenny’s All-Ireland under-20 success in 2022 to find the root of the problem - back then once you played senior championship you were automatically restricted from playing at under-20 level.

The Limerick team that lost out to Kilkenny on that occasion had to line up without Cathal O’Neill and even the Galway side the Cats got the better of earlier in the campaign were minus Tiernan Leen and Gavin Lee.

Only last year Wexford passed the motion of a seven day window between games but even that had its struggles with Kilkenny having selection issues with the likes of Billy Drennan, Timmy Clifford and Gearoid Dunne.

The former rule applied for Tier One hurling and Tier One and Two Football Championships but the 60 hour restriction will now apply to all tiers.

Derek Lyng was Kilkenny manager for that under-20 championship success and admits that it’s a sensible decision to change the rule.

“It’s a common sense approach and I think it’s great as it gives lads an opportunity,” he said. “The responsibility is on the management of both teams to make sure that the lads are ready and fresh. If we manage it between us it won’t be a problem.”

Lyng has seen both sides of the coin and as senior manager he will now work alongside under-20 boss Mark Dowling. With the likes of Joe Fitzpatrick, Gearoid Dunne, Killian Doyle and Harry Shine moving between the two sides, communication is massively important.

It’s worth noting that the change won’t eliminate all areas of clashes as even last year, the Kilkenny senior and under-20 sides ended up playing on the same day and venue for a Leinster Championship double-header with Dublin and Westmeath respectively but it should at least give a bit more clarity.

The Kilkenny senior side don’t kick off the defence of their Leinster title until Sunday April 21 when they host Antrim at UPMC Nowlan Park whereas the under-20s meet Wexford on Saturday, March 30 and Laois on Saturday, April 6.

Should they reach the quarter-finals, any potential clashes will be avoided. Kilkenny will be eager to go far with the under-20 All-Ireland final taking place on home soil to mark the 100th anniversary of James Nowlan.