"The third level games at this time of the year should get priority," Loughnane said.

Loughnane's Galway side played out a thrilling drawn encounter with Offaly at O'Connor Park last Sunday, but he believes that the momentum has now been lost by his side, as the Tribesmen will not taste further league action until Tipperary travel to Pearse Stadium on March 9.

"The puzzling thing, it seems to me, is that there is a three-week break between now and the next game. Everyone would love if there was a game next Sunday because now you are on a roll after the previous two Sundays."

He added: "Now we face into a three-week gap and then you are playing four, maybe even five weeks in a row."

The two-time All-Ireland winning manager believes that a schedule of games needs to be drawn up where Fitzgibbon Cup and National League matches are given separate timeframes, and are distinctly apart from each other.

"I think it is a pity that the Fitzgibbon Cup wasn't started and over by last Sunday, that the whole thing was over by then and then the league is run after that. It would seem to me to make a lot more sense," he said.

Galway lined out against Offaly with six players that won All-Ireland Under-21 medals last season, including Ger Mahon who tasted Fitzgibbon Cup action midweek.

While it is a pressure cooker for Loughnane at the moment in terms of availability, the Fitzgibbon Cup is not the only thing which is causing him some selection headaches.

Loughnane has had to cope with the unavailability of the Portumna players due to their involvement in the All-Ireland Club semi-final and some injuries to key players including Niall Healy, who suffered a punctured lung in his side's victory over Clare on the opening day of the league.

However, Loughnane is quick to look at the positives.

He said: "What the whole thing does for us - the fact that fellas are with clubs and injured - means it gives us a chance to try out players. You would have to be encouraged (at the moment). What I look for at this time of the year is the younger players."

The former Clare boss was particularly heartened with the recent form of Mahon, Andrew Keary, David Forde and Kevin Hynes.

"The way Ger Mahon recovered from last Sunday and the way he played against Offaly was fantastic. Andrew Keary was outstanding at wing back, especially in the last 10 minutes when he was really needed.

"It's great to see a young lad that is still an Under-21 doing that kind of stuff."