Leitrim manager Andy Moran has hit out at what he described as the “absolutely insane rule” which prohibits two of his U20 stars from lining out in the Connacht senior football championship this weekend.

Yesterday (Wednesday) evening saw Moran guide the county’s U20s to a famous Connacht championship third round win over Mayo (3-12 to 0-16) in Ballinamore, where seniors Barry McNulty and Jack Foley both started and played key roles in the victory.

However, their participation in the game – just four days after the Division 4 final defeat to Laois – rules them out of Sunday’s crunch senior provincial championship quarter-final against Sligo in Carrick-on-Shannon (throw-in 3.30pm).

Speaking to Radio MidWest after the win over Mayo, Moran explained the reason behind his decision to start his senior stars in the game.

“Ah, if it didn't work it would have been the world's worst,” said the former Mayo forward. “The reason we took both teams this year was to have control on the whole kind of structure.

“We had Barry and Jack, in fairness to the U20s, we [the seniors] had them for the whole national league. They played every minute of every game. They only played one challenge match with the U20s right through. So, they had sacrificed the whole year through.

“We spoke to the senior captaincy at the weekend - they were in full agreement that the U20s had to take preference this week.

“We have Barry and Jack this week, and we have them next Wednesday, but, unfortunately, we don't have them Sunday - which is a mad rule, absolutely insane rule.”

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