THE GAA took another step into the modern era yesterday by asking amateur intercounty managers and players to conduct post-match reflections in the media room under the Hogan Stand that was primarily built for soccer and rugby internationals.

A sign of the times and in the same week Lisa Clancy was named the association's new communications director.

Traditionally, such activity is conducted in the tunnel or pitch side, with managers collared as they return from addressing the opposition or emerge from the television room.

It is always a tight squeeze with the interviewee hemmed-in by a phalanx of reporters armed with recording devices.

Dublin manager Paul Caffrey is notorious for being less than forthcoming in such cramped situations. For some, not Caffrey mind, it can be an intimidating environment. The new set-up affords the manager some breathing space by sitting at a top table. Essentially, it puts parameters on this arduous yet necessary process.

It also confines the journalists to one place. No longer free to roam, the days of access to the dressingrooms could be numbered.

More's the pity that the first interview of this trial arrangement ended in Louth manager Eamonn McEneaney walking out. And who could blame him?

After the 13-point defeat had stalled the decent progress of Louth football these past few years, McEneaney was not interested in entertaining a needlessly inflammatory question comparing the first half to basement-level football.

"A game between two pub teams?" McEneaney repeated with understandable distaste. "I don't have to answer a question like that - that is insulting to my team and to the Dublin team."

Caffrey, flanked by long-serving selector Dave Billings, came in next. It's too early in the championship to be analysing Dublin's prospects so this was a brief, cordial exchange. The focus shifted quickly to Westmeath on June 29th.

"I was down in Tullamore last night and that first-half display wouldn't be near good enough against Westmeath. The converse of that was a very efficient second-half performance. That's the way it panned out in the end.

"First rounds of the championship are notorious. We would have liked to start a bit better and we were hoping we'd have a bit more. We had eight wides in the first half. Conversion rate was very poor but fair play to the players, they settled in the second half and looked a better team. That's what we have to be going forward: a better team."

Caffrey reiterated the Dublin team was not a "closed shop", meaning scope exists for the newer panel members to earn a starting berth.

Eamonn Fennell, for one, will force the management to reassess the established Ciarán Whelan and Shane Ryan midfield partnership.

Paul, do you need to adapt your style for what's coming next? "Style? (He has never been one for media buzz words). "Well, they are playing a brand of football that is maximising their resources and fair play to them. We have to come up with a plan of counteracting that.

"We weren't fit to do it in the National League final and that's our challenge for the next three weeks.

"Make no bones about it. This Westmeath team are playing a serious brand of football and teams are getting it very hard against them."

Mr Controversy waded in again: Is that type of performance today good enough to win a Leinster title? An asinine question, especially with Pillar Caffrey on the receiving end.

"Leinster titles aren't given out either today or in three weeks' time so we can only win what's put in front of us. First half today would be hardly good enough to win today's match. Second half, yes.

"Anyone else lads? Everyone happy? Strange to see you so subdued lads, sitting there."

Maybe it was the new surroundings. Maybe everyone is still waiting for the championship to ignite.