Recently-retired Cavan star Cian Mackey believes inter-county managers are reading too much into GPS stats.

The Castlerahan clubman also feels the demands on inter-county players are becoming unrealistic and is looking forward to being able to go on "random holidays" and attending more stag parties after 15 years in the Cavan jersey.

"I think the big problem in the GAA is they go by GPS stats," Mackey said in a wide-ranging interview with the Irish News.

"Player 'X' is just after running 10k'; you could be doing 10k running around and doing nothing. GPS is a small key, but you'd have management teams looking into that and thinking it's the gospel.

"I believe in systems to an extent, but I also believe you need someone who can play to a system and can also realise when we need to change something to get a score, because there is that much that goes into watching other teams to combat your system.

"So if a system is not working, you need to be able to do something a wee bit different."

He added: "I found there is too much training and too much conditioning. You have to be fit, but you can go overboard. If you don't give the ball away, you'll be fine.

"(I'm looking forward to) going on random holidays and stag parties. I've been to two stag parties in my life - Ronan Flanagan's and Daniel Lynch's."

The Allianz Football and Hurling Leagues are back this weekend and so is the Hogan Stand Match Tracker. Join us on Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon for live score and updates from the opening rounds.

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