Dublin under-20 manager Tom Gray has questioned the relevance of the age grade to senior football.
Gray is preparing his side for Saturday’s rearranged EirGrid All-Ireland final against Galway, which will be the curtain-raiser for the senior decider between Dublin and Mayo.
Dublin have enjoyed a large degree of success at under-21 level, claiming All-Irelands in 2003, ‘10, ‘12, ‘14 and ‘17 with many players from those teams then going on to win senior silverware, before it was changed to under-20 in 2018, while the minor grade dropped from under-18 to under-17.
Gray said: “I think competition success is overrated at underage level and certainly an under-17 competition I don't think would be any barometer whatsoever for what's going to happen at senior level in future years, for any county.
“Under-20, maybe so, but even under-20 is a fair gap between that and senior in terms of physical development and particularly the way senior football has gone the last 10 or 15 years.
“Look, I know the reality is that in the past that's what it looked like (that under-21 success was a barometer) but whether that will be the way in the future…
“Under-20s is a relatively new competition, I know there's a review taking place in Croke Park as regards whether or not it should be under-19 or under-20.
“I would believe that it'll be less of an indicator in future. If it stays at that level, it will be less of an indicator in the future than it has been in the past.”
