I didn't realise the extent to which potential footballers are being deprived of these opportunities at ages younger than under-17. Yes, that problem would have to be addressed too.Yes, someone else will get an opportunity now that Jack has chosen only hurling. The problem is we start squads in Cork at U14 and most of the lads on these squads are dual players, by the time we get to minor we could have on a football squad 6 or 7 lads who also play inter county hurling as well, and if those lads chose hurling we have deprived other lads close to inter county level of being part of a squad all the way up and building up S & C etc.
All well and good winning Minor & U20 All Irelands but if a percentage of these lads are going hurling after not only are we losing them but we have deprived other young footballers a lot of development.
Remember a young lad at 13/14/15/16/17 in Cork will play around 10 competitive club matches a year, is this enough to develop top class footballers? No concsedience thatmost of the teams at the top of division 1 & 2 and winning All Irelands are prodomantly football counties.
You make a very good point about the number of competitive club games. And of course this does hinder development of their football. And hinders a lot of other things too for players that will never make it to elite level - I know of some (under 21s) who got two matches this year and they are finished for the year!