THE GAA’S collective winter training ban on intercounty teams may be under way, but it hasn’t stopped some managers from beginning the preparation work for 2011.

Now in its second year of enforcement, the ban prohibits county sides from gathering as a panel for any formal training during November and December – one of the GAA’s ways of addressing the fears of player burnout – although Waterford hurling manager Davy Fitzgerald is currently putting members of his panel through individual fitness evaluations, which, in theory at least, is not in breach of the collective ban.

Although Dan Shanahan was one of the high-profile retirements in the aftermath of Waterford’s All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Tipperary, it appears at this stage that the rest of Waterford’s so-called veterans will be back in 2011 – including Ken McGrath, John Mullane and Tony Browne.

There were rumours that Browne had also retired in the aftermath of the semi-final defeat to Tipperary, but the 37-year-old is among those included in Fitzgerald’s individual fitness evaluations and looks perfectly intent on continuing on for another season.

There have also been some rumours of counties defying the collective training ban, or at least training in smaller groups. Many of the newly-appointed managers for 2011 have spoken out against the ban – including Donegal football manager Jim McGuinness – on the basis that it presents them with a disadvantage on managers who have been in place for two or more seasons.

The GAA, however, have yet to identify any such breaches.

Cork hurling manager Denis Walsh has also been doing some groundwork for the 2011 campaign, even if that has meant informing players that their services are no longer needed, and none more infamously than Seán Óg Ó Ailpín.

It’s now confirmed that younger brother Aisake Ó Ailpín won’t be part of the Cork panel next year either, although his decision to withdraw is his own.

Ó Ailpín recently travelled to Australia along with his other brother Setanta, who plays in the Australian Football League, and Aisake has decided to stay on long-term, having already found employment in the Melbourne area.