Mickey Harte insists there remains a future for the provincial championships despite last weekend throwing further focus on the haves and have nots.
Harte's Louth were on the end of a 16-point hammering to Kildare in Tullamore on Sunday afternoon while, a day earlier, Wexford suffered a home 23-point defeat at the hands of rejuvenated Dublin.
Both Kildare and Dublin were relegated from Division 1 this year and while the Dubs were expected to cruise past Wexford, a Division 4 outfit, it was predicted that Louth could put it up to Kildare as both will be in Division 2 next season.
Instead, the gulf in class was painfully evident but Harte, who must now pick his players up for the qualifiers, is still a strong backer of the provincial system.
"I'm a fan of the provincial championships," insisted the former Tyrone supremo.
"I always was, because I think what it offers all teams is a chance to have a big day in a provincial final.
"If you take that away, whatever other system you bring in they have nothing to aim for.
"And in any given season, depending on the luck of the draw, a team with a lower status at this moment in time could end up in a provincial final.
"Whether they win it or not is neither here nor there, but the fact they get to one would be a day to remember for them and their supporters.
"So I wouldn't like to take that away from anybody."
Harte watched Kildare demolish his team's kick-out strategy in the first half at O'Connor Park and was impressed by the intensity set by Glenn Ryan's men.
The Dubs haven't been beaten in the province in 12 years and will face Meath in the semis, while Kildare have been drawn against Westmeath.
Harte believes that the Lilywhites can put it up to Dublin if both progress as expected.
"Well sure it looks like it, they beat them in the League and they look to be getting a head of steam here now," he assessed. "I think they'll both be in the final.
"We allowed Kildare too much leeway in the first half and then the efficiency of their shooting was unbelievable.
"Their tenacity and strength on the ball, and the way they made it so difficult for us on the ball, we knew it was going to be a step up.
"Technically now we're in the same division for next year, but it just shows the step up and the power that's needed for the next level - the intensity of their tackling and the physicality that they had."
With Kildare and Dublin in Division 2 next year, Harte says that Louth have been given "advance notice" of the level they have to get to, although he admits it will still take years to achieve that having been a Division 4 team just two years ago.
"We've learned that for sure," he remarked. "Dublin being in this division won't make that easier either.
"There's a lot to look forward to and a lot of work to be done.
"But you can only work at where you're at and there's a lot of young players who will learn about what it takes to play and stay at this level, which is very important.
"We're starting out a bit behind the curve but, bit by bit, we're getting there. The boys are putting in the work.
"I think in a few years' time they'll be physically developed enough to bring that intensity.
"There is a wee timeframe now to regroup and try to get one more game out of this (the qualifiers), and maybe two.
"It's a work in progress and the more games they get at this level, they're going to get more experience and learn what it takes."
