The GAA rule which prevents U21 inter-county football teams from returning to collective training until January 1 next has come in for criticism after it emerged that the 2015 Hastings Cup competition will commence on January 3.

That leaves the 16 competing counties with just two days to prepare themselves for the opening round. They will play two more games in the round-robin series on January 10 and 17 before the knockout stages take place.

With the Hastings Cup starting immediately after the lifting of the training ban, the temptation will obviously be there for some counties to begin training before they are allowed to.

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