COVID-19: GAA CHIEF‘ DISGUSTED’ BY CELEBRATIONS AS WEXFORD BRACED FOR TIGHTER RESTRICTIONS
THE chairman of Wexford GAA, Derek Kent, has described the behaviour of GAA players who went out drinking and were responsible, in part, for the spread of the Covid-19 virus within the county as deplorable and disgusting.
Mr Kent said there will be serious consequences following the surge in cases arising from GAA players’ actions in the wake of teams’ socialising in towns and villages across the county earlier this month.
Two Wexford senior hurlers tested positive on Thursday having been tested over the previous days while a number of U20 players also tested positive. They are among numerous members of clubs scattered across the county to have tested positive for the virus – over the past week – which has been rampant in the county following booze ups involving players after county finals. Mr Kent said he has been inundated with messages of support over recent days, but also criticism of those responsible for the spread of the virus within communities.
He said Wexford was the first county to get club players out playing ‘purely for community spirit. We were the first to come up with a revised championship and split season concept. That concept has led to a national split season [dynamic]. From my point of view I was probably the only chairman who came out four months ago looking for club games to be played. I got lambasted by the GPA at the time.
‘I was also the only person who came out with the championship in the format it went with and I got lambasted for that too. In the heel of the hunt clubs loved the championship and the format. We also went and did a clever thing by investing in four stadiums only so we wouldn’t have games all over Wexford, just in New Ross, Enniscorthy and Wexford. We controlled the environment and controlled the stadium and got sanitisers in place.’
He said players were togging out outdoors and all safety measures were taken at club grounds. ‘We played our county finals and the hurling went extremely well. The majority of players had to turn around the following week and had to play football. The hurling celebrations were at a minimum because they had a game six or seven days later. All the things we did up to the hurling were absolutely spot on; we couldn’t have done it better. With the county football championship we got to the finals, unfortunately we couldn’t have the big final the week earlier and ended up having five finals in one weekend which didn’t help our cause.’
Monageer-Boolavogue players lined out against Naomh Eanna, with the Gorey team coming out on top. The Shamrocks triumphed over Ballyhogue and Adamstown lost out to Glynn-Barntown on the Saturday.
On the following day Enniscorthy outfit the Starlights beat Castletown in the senior final and St Anne’s triumphed over Ferns St Aidan’s.
On Monday the news was broken to Mr Kent and the GAA management that outbreaks of Covid-19 clusters were cropping up throughout the county.
‘We really only realised the issue we were facing nine to ten days after the games. We are aware of clusters surrounding all but two of the clubs that took part:
Adamstown and Glynn-Barntown.’
He said five members of the Castletown team tested positive ahead of Sunday’s Allianz National Football League game against Limerick, which they subsequently won.
‘The hurling finals went ahead when the pubs were closed. Celebratory drinks are part of it. When the season ends you go off and have a drink with your team mates and some clubs are better prepared than others. If you take people who go to the pub after a game. There are only 24 to 30 players on a squad. You also have die hard club supporters. It’s not just the players that drink. We in Wexford GAA led the way in trying to get players back playing and supporters watching in a safe environment. We worked extremely hard at it and we delivered a games programmes for Co Wexford which was enjoyed and was a great social outlet for the people who got behind it.
‘We know from the number of people who watched the live streamed matches and listened to the radio and read the paper. We didn’t go out of the way to knock the good work of Nphet and the HSE and government. We set out to simply give an outlet for people. I am disappointed that some players and some supporters abused the celebrations but we can’t be held accountable.’
Mr Kent said the actions of the few have impacted negatively on the many.
‘The antics that have caused this – we have had to shut down all the kids’ championships. Kids were still going to the pitches and training and with the clubs. It’s made a bad year worse. They have hurt and damaged Wexford GAA. Kids can’t play. It’s outrageous and I absolutely deplore what the small minority did; what a small minority within Wexford GAA did.’
He said Wexford GAA fully supported GAA President John Horan’s call to suspend all club activities in the 32 counties.
‘We also fully support that we are not ready to go back playing club games in Wexford until we sort out the criteria with social gatherings after the games. I am not going to let our games back until I am happy.’
With several championship finals left to be played, many players in underage teams especially have seen their season cut short temporarily because of the
actions of some team players and supporters, Mr Kent said.
‘Our performance was impeccable. I was more than delighted about the way the clubs behaved both before and after the finals but I am disillusioned, disappointed and disgusted about the post match celebrations. The GAA clubs have been reminded by the county board of their Covid requirements. There were cases that came out of Rathangan. The Starlights have assured me there were no cases associated with the club.’
Mr Kent said just because the GAA is being named as the source of many cases it doesn’t mean cases aren’t coming from other sections of society.
‘There is an outbreak in Oulart The Ballagh which has nothing to do with the GAA. A lot of college students are coming in and out. There are a number of cases in the U20 set-up but a majority of cases are not linked to any of the club games in Wexford or life in Wexford.’
Mr Kent said Wexford GAA was the first county GAA body to avail of rapid testing. ‘More than 100 personnel between Wexford footballers and hurlers of our senior set up were tested. The footballers were tested on Tuesday and the hurlers on Wednesday. We had two positive results. Both managers tested negative.’
The results were returned within 16 hours.
Mr Kent said a decision was taken at Wexford GAA board level to go with rapid testing to ensure the county teams were prepared for the championship.
‘That was a masterstroke because now all other counties are doing it. There was an increase in cases in Wexford which also led to the decision.’
He said a new rapid testing system for Covid, paid for by Wexford GAA after a deal was struck with the Covid test operators, means all senior hurling and football players are tested regularly.
Other measure introduced include that no more than 24 players can play at any one time, a maximum of 12 in the backroom team is allowed and only two county board officers can attend matches.
‘They are the only people involved in the match outside the officials. That group of people will be continuously monitored. We have a temporary check and a Covid officers in every team. The GAA can’t control [everything]. There are two club players who are students who picked up Covid. I am mad; not all players are bad. The Wexford senior hurlers and footballers behave like professionals and we treat them like professionals and I expect them to act professionally between now and the end of the championship.
‘The biggest question is what happens if we win the Leinster final. That is one that has to be sorted at national level. It’s also something that has to be sorted at government level regarding what level pubs will be at at that time.’
Describing the past month as among the most stressful in his four year tenure, Mr Kent said: ‘It’s definitely the saddest. Wexford GAA has done great work. 16 counties didn’t do cúl camps and we did and ended up being the third largest in Ireland. Wexford GAA is up there, number one or number two, in the country. Apart from that sorting out the finances in my first year [was the most stressful]. We got back up the table where we belong. It was the saddest moment for me as chairman that some players and supporters abused what they should have respected.’
Attributing the behaviour to the euphoria of being part of a county final and finishing playing for the season, Mr Kent said: ‘I am saddened by the whole event after all the good work we have done.’
He would not be drawn on what GAA fans can expect next year, saying he will no longer be chairman in 2021. ‘This is a difficult period for everybody. It’s something Wexford GAA will have to learn from. What has happened in the last couple of weeks with finals; lessons have to be learned by the individuals involved. With the County Championship we did have a local championship in Wexford in hurling which was a major success and there was no fallout from it.
‘I am 100 per cent aware that there was no fall-out and can say that hand on heart. We were the first ones out with Wexford County Council response unit. Wexford GAA had more personnel on the ground during wellness month than anywhere else. When people were locked up ex players rang the old folk and we did quizzes. Wexford GAA was the first to start a championship in a county and the first to play every weekend.
‘We led the way through the pandemic. This minority of lads have let the side down. We have games to be played for 2020 and 2021 but we have to take note of what players and supporters have done.’
Mr Kent said Wexford GAA is investing in canvas tents, extra towels and equipment for the Wexford GAA Excellence Centre in Lodgewood, Ferns. ‘We are putting more controls in place to ensure our teams are best prepared for the coming weeks and months.’