Clare's Shane O'Donnell has suggested that more high-profile inter-county players follow his lead and sit out the Allianz Hurling League to be fit for the latter stages of their respective provincial senior hurling championships and beyond.
O'Donnell did not heavily feature in the Clare's League campaign last year but was instrumental in their All-Ireland win over Cork last summer.
The Éire Óg Ennis clubman is expected to take a similar approach this year and feels it may become more common among other inter-county players in the near future.
"I’ve recommended it to a load of people," he told RTÉ Sport’s Marty Morrissey "I feel like it is something that will become more common."
The Clare superstar also believes the workload of the hurling season means he cannot commit to both fully, which is why he has decided to prioritise one over the other.
Shane O'Donnell, Podge Collins, and Peter Duggan (Photo By Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile via Getty Images)"For me, the season is too long. It would be too long for me to start hurling in December and play and train all the way through to July at inter-county level and then continue with the club.
"Physically, my body would not survive that; I know that now. Also, from a work perspective, it’s not compatible."
O'Donnell also revealed that he initially sought time off due to a concussion issue that threatened to end his hurling career. Additionally, his tech role, involving building software, rules out full-time hurling, which he believes has served him well.
"It came about because of the concussion—I ended up having a long off-season the year after, and I felt like I got the best out of my body in a long time—and I had the conversation with Brian Lohan and negotiated this shorter season.
"It served me well, and I think it would serve a lot of players well."
See More: All Britain GAA, Shane O'Donnell
