By Cian O'Connell

Leinster football selector Johnny Doyle reckons 'it is important' that the Inter-provincial series continues.

The former Kildare star enjoyed featuring for his province and feels that players benefit from the experience. 

"It’s a tricky one, every year, as long as I can remember, it’s “where do we fit it in?” and yet we’re here, still trying to fit it in," Doyle says.

"I think it is important we find somewhere for it. No matter where in the calendar, it seems to be bursting. I’ve had experience of playing it abroad and it was brilliant.

"I went to Paris and Boston. It was great for the players to mix and get to know each other. Even to this day there’s one or two you’d always keep in contact. Out there you might have done everything to plot their downfall but playing in the inter-provincials, it was great for the players.

"Being involved on the other side of the line, even lads who couldn’t commit were really disappointed. Club commitments, one or two lads away on holidays.

"Take Dublin or the Mayo guys who had a long, long season. They were hardly able to celebrate before they were back to their clubs – still mad to play it.

"I was talking to Bernard Brogan – he’s away with his stag and you’d think maybe he’s played it before - but he was mad to play it again only he’s away the weekend."

Following recent underage triumphs in Leinster, Doyle is hopeful that Kildare can enjoy a bright future. "That's the big challenge now.We had reasonable success at provincial underage level and it's about converting that at senior level and that is the challenge.

"There is so much talk now about enjoying the game and the pressures that are on inter-county players, the training levels.

"I'm not really sure I buy into that a huge amount. I came in through the Micko era and we trained as hard as I've trained under anyone.

"There's a persona out there that when Kieran [McGeeney/> came in that this was a new level.

"There were new levels of professionalism and organisation but the training wasn't any harder than it was under Mick O'Dwyer or Johnny Crofton. The training was serious. I think maybe now there is a bit more emphasis on the load you're doing."