By Niall Gartland

FORMER Monaghan skipper Owen Lennon has issued a stinging rebuke of the split-season, arguing that it only serves to exacerbate the problem of player burnout.

Lennon is in charge of Ulster Junior Championship finalists Emyvale, who face a tricky six-day turnaround for Saturday’s showdown against Tyrone side Clogher. He says it’s nowhere near ample preparation time in the circumstances.

“I wouldn’t be too happy with that [the turnaround]. I think it’s a wee bit unfair. It’s the same more or less for both teams – Clogher have a seven-day turnaround, and we have six.

“We have picked up a couple of injuries, which has probably ruled out two of our players for the Ulster final.”

Lennon says that the problem is symptomatic of the ‘split-season’, which he says does very little to combat player burnout. Indeed, he says it has the opposite of its intended effect.

“I totally disagree with it. For the bigger matches in particular, you should have longer rest periods in between.

“If you look at the most successful clubs, they generally provide the most players for their county teams.

“A lot of those players are getting very little rest time between the club and county seasons. I think it’s very unfair and it’s no coincidence that a lot of players in county squads are out injured at the moment.

“The body is going to eventually break down if they don’t get enough rest, and the current calender isn’t fit for purpose in that respect.”