ONE OF several negative knock-on effects from the postponed Sigerson Cup finals is the plight of players trying to break into intercounty panels.

Considering the historical importance of this third-level competition, county managers give players plenty of leeway in the early stages of the National Football League, but with at least another week of rulebook wranglings now tagged on, their patience may start to wear thin.

"It would have been nice to get the Sigerson out of the way, as players are facing a big struggle what with having to go training at intercounty level," says DIT and Dublin forward Mark Vaughan.

"For myself it is not too bad considering I got my game (for Dublin) last year. But guys who are breaking through and have a county game at the weekend - it's pretty tough on them to say no to the county manager to play Sigerson - even though it's a big-enough tournament."

The average player views the whole mess with some embarrassment. The debacle is hardly something new for Vaughan. Back in 2005, before he made the breakthrough at senior level for Dublin, his name was tossed around the media because of an appeals saga that dragged on for months.

"I understand the appeals system has to be adhered to but why can't they look at it straight away?" he wonders. "It shouldn't take so long. There should be three or four guys who vote straight away.

"There is always a loophole. Just look at my year with Crokes; when the suspension went to the DRA one of the solicitors in Crokes found a loophole in the system."

It doesn't overly bother the laid-back Killiney native, who has experienced an injury-free pre-season for the first time since bursting out of the minors in 2003.

He was an All Star nominee in 2007, after cementing his role in Dublin's starting line-up, usurping the St Vincent's captain Tomás Quinn as the resident free-taker, and more than ever expectations will weigh heavily on his shoulders in the coming months.

Thus far, Vaughan has lived up to his growing reputation as the driving force behind DIT victories over UCC, DCU and Tralee IT en route to tomorrow's semi-final against UUJ, scoring 0-17, 14 from frees, in the three outings.

"It's the closest I've played to intercounty. The bulk of our team has played intercounty football or at least played in Dublin training matches. Then you have the likes of Aidan Kilcoyne from Mayo. There are a lot of quality players."

As his football commitments have increased, Kilmacud Crokes have been the team suffering from his absence this spring.

"I've had to blank Crokes because I'm training all week. I've been with Dublin all along. Sigerson training is Monday and Wednesday and Dublin is Tuesday and Thursday.

"I had a break this week from Dublin but he (manager Paul Caffrey) has been conscious not to overtrain me."

What about rising expectations? "I didn't really score that much from play last year. The bulk of my points came from frees so I need to work on that. For Crokes there would be a 50-50 spread.

"I've been playing half forward more so I have to work on my defensive play but the extra fitness this time of year (he missed seven months last year with a shoulder injury) has helped.

"The change of position - I'd been in the corner for Crokes until recently as well - allows me to get on the ball more, become more of a playmaker. It suits me."

The same cannot be said for college life. Besides 18 months' work experience, for the past five years he has been a student. Another year in DIT looks likely as he seeks a spot in the new Finance Masters, before the shirt-and-tie environment takes over.

"Coming up to exams it's difficult when you're training every night. Lads are working away in the library until nine o'clock and you're leaving to go training at four.

"When you're working there's more consistency. It's the same all year round. You get used to a routine of work and training."

A healthier bank balance too? "That's obviously a massive thing."

With so many marquee names in this competition, any idea who will be the shadow tomorrow?

"Obviously, not many teams can beat Queen's so Jordanstown must be a decent side but I don't know too much about them. I never look much at opponents, to be honest."

Nice to see some things remain the same.