Third level competitions should take centre stage at the start of the year, according to Dublin manager Jim Gavin.

Following their Allianz FL Division 1 win over Donegal, the three-in-a-row All-Ireland winning manager was asked about Brian Howard's absence from the DIT team in last weekend's Sigerson Cup quarter-final clash with IT Tralee.

He put forward a "simple solution" to the fixtures conundrum that currently leaves talented players with difficult decisions to make at this time of year.

"It's the same issue that comes up every January and February about the Fitzgibbon, Sigerson and Trench Cups," he told The Irish Independent.

"I'm surprised we're still playing National Football League games in the last week of January and the first week of February.

"There is no need for it. I think Sigerson and Fitzgibbon are very important competitions. I think it's a great competition. I've been an advocate of it for a long time. You can't play (the universities championships) before Christmas break because of exams, and that's the most important thing for students, to get their exams."

He added: "It's simply a matter of pushing back the National Football and Hurling League. It's a simple solution but I don't think anyone is listening."

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