‘I DON’T SEE HOW IT CAN BE PLAYED’
“We’re going to be in the depths of winter”
FROM ‘The Toughest Summer’ to what could yet be billed ‘The Toughest Winter’. Ann Downey is switching from talking about her own walk-on role in AIB’s new video series covering what should have been the GAA’s peak season to talking about what lies ahead for the rest of 2020.
She has been at the forefront of the inter-county scene for so long, first as a serial All-Ireland camogie title winner with Kilkenny as a player, then in various coaching and management roles – right up to last September’s final and the defeat by Galway in a thriller.
In light of the new Government restrictions on sport and putting games behind closed doors, she just can’t see any AllIreland championships being played in 2020 — and that’s in hurling, camogie or men’s or ladies Gaelic football.
‘If I was honest, I really don’t see the Championship going ahead,’ says Downey.
‘We’re going to be in the depths of winter and the protocol will be, if you get a cold you’re sent for a test.
‘And if you’re sent for a test, you have to self-isolate until you get the result. If you get the result and it’s clear, you still can’t go near your pitch for two to three days.
‘So that’s going to take a lot of players out of the picture. To be quite honest, at this moment in time, unless figures improve I don’t see the Championship going ahead.’
The camogie All-Ireland final was meant to be first up in a festival of hurling in midDecember with the men’s senior final to follow but Tuesday night’s decision by Government to now remove all spectators from outdoor sporting events has cast fresh doubt on any inter-county action.
As someone who is currently managing Kilkenny intermediate hurling side Ballyragget, breaking the mould in that respect as she goes, she admitted it was hard news to take for so many in the GAA.
‘My own nephew is involved with the Kilkenny panel. When he heard the news yesterday of no spectators he was really disappointed, regardless of how few were at the matches. Angela [Downey] had said to him there is quite a possibility that you won’t get to play county this year and they are devastated.’
And yet she remains philosophical about any decisions taken re sport.
‘Really, you have to look at the bigger picture,’ she explains.
They say this virus is attacking the older people and the younger people are exempt — I don’t think we realise how dangerous this virus is, especially the youth.
‘It is a priority that we all get through it well, and look forward to next year. There is plenty of time for camogie. If you get this virus and you’re not ever to recover from it fully, your life is in shatters for the rest of your life.’
As for breaking the mould in taking over a Kilkenny intermediate team, does she see herself as paving the way for other female coaches and managers?
‘Certainly, there has been great interest this year that I have gone back in managing Ballyragget but I don’t really see it any different than managing the girls.
‘It’s the same skill set, the same level of commitment, the same professionalism. Certainly I would hope that it opens the door… I know coaches and lady managers that would be far better than I am.
‘I hope that they get their opportunity. And if they’re asked, that they will come to the fore.’
So was she surprised at the level of attention at taking over as manager of a men’s Kilkenny team, a team who were playing senior last year until relegation?
‘I was surprised to be quite honest. I didn’t really want the attention putting pressure on the guys because I was after taking over.
‘At the end of the day it is up to the guys to go out and win a match. I was surprised with the amount of attention it got because even myself, years ago we had Fiona O’Driscoll was a great Cork camogie player and was teaching in Portlaoise and she trained my own club in Lisdowney and we got to a club All-Ireland with her and she is just a brilliant coach.
‘Then there’s Juliet Murphy, I could stay naming the great coaches. Maybe it was just I was gone in as manager and that’s why it got attention but I hope it opens the door for other female managers, that they have the courage of their convictions to take the jobs if they are asked and I hope clubs will put their faith in female people that are involved in GAA.
‘Because at the end of the day every chairman that is in the country has a female behind him. She’s probably doing the work and he’s probably getting the clap on the back.
‘Females have been involved in the GAA for God’s time so why not take up the mantle as a manager.’