The current rule denied Kerry’s David Clifford and Seán O’Shea the chance to line out for both teams last summer as they chose to play senior inter-county football. Offaly starlet Cian Johnson was also ordered by the Offaly County Board to play U20 football only.

Unless Kerry exit the All-Ireland SFC in July or before, none of Peter Keane’s players eligible to play for the county at U20 level will be able to play for Jack O’Connor’s side as the All-Ireland U20 final takes place on the August Bank Holiday weekend.

However, the majority of counties beaten in the early qualifier rounds of the All-Ireland SFC who have underage players involved in their senior panels are in line to be able to release them for U20 duty. The first round of the All-Ireland SFC takes place on June 8 with the next rounds scheduled for June 22 and June 29.

The Waterford-Clare and Tipperary-Limerick Munster U20 quarter-finals aren’t down for decision until July 2 while four of the opening Leinster U20 games don’t occur until the same date, with the other three organised for June 22. Connacht’s competition doesn’t get going until June 26 with the semi-finals arranged for July 3. Ulster begin their competition with a preliminary round on June 21.

Kerry are fully behind the U20 motion as much as they might not benefit from the proposed change. Speaking last June, O’Connor expressed his issues with the rule as it stands after losing Clifford and O’Shea: “This rule is a bit skewed...you can only go up, you can’t play with the seniors and then come back down.”

Aimed at reducing the burden on talented underage players, the current rule also facilitated the All-Ireland senior and U20 football championships being played off concurrently as opposed to when the old U21 format took place in spring.