Pat Spillane is in favour of retaining the provincial championships.

Dublin’s monopoly on the Leinster SFC has led to renewed calls for the provincials to be scrapped, but Spillane doesn’t agree.

“I still believe they should be retained for several reasons,” the Kerry legend wrote in the Sunday World.

“Local rivalries. The best chance for weaker counties to win games and a cup. Think Tipperary and Cavan.

“It’s a competitive structure despite the dominance of certain teams. Out of the six counties in Munster, five have been in the provincial final over the last number of years. Out of the five in Connacht, four have reached the final in recent years.

“Take Dublin aside in Leinster and the remainder are pretty much equal and competitive, while Ulster remains the best and most competitive of all.

“Perhaps a certain amount of tweaking can be done. But my message is be careful what you wish for in bowing to the cries for those wanting the provincials to be scrapped.

“The money generated by those provincial matches is primarily spent on coaching and club developments in their respective counties. Sport will always have dominant teams, always have one-sided matches, will always have hammerings. Getting rid of the provincial championships won’t stop those.”

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