DECISION TIME
Pressure mounts on GAA to revisit All-Ireland plans
THE Government’s decision to put sport behind closed doors has heaped the pressure on the GAA to make its own decision on whether to pull the plug on the All-Ireland football and hurling championships.
Against a backdrop of huge disquiet amongst members over the fresh restrictions and with the very real prospect of no supporters being allowed for any winter All-Ireland series, the pressure is on regarding the biggest decision the association will have to make this year.
The return of inter-county games is scheduled from October 17, with the two outstanding rounds in the Allianz Football League to be completed before provincial championships kick off on Halloween weekend.
But with collective training allowed from September 14, that leaves the GAA a matter of weeks to give teams proper notice if the likes of Dublin and Tipperary are to defend the Sam Maguire and Liam MacCarthy Cups respectively.
Kerry chairman Tim Murphy admitted that time is of the essence. ‘I would imagine that decision
will be made, certainly in the next fortnight,’ he told OTB Sports. ‘It’ll have to be made the first week of September in advance of any inter-county training resuming.’
In light of the new Government restrictions on sport and putting games behind closed doors, multiple Kilkenny All-Ireland winner Ann Downey is just one of a growing number who can’t see any All-Ireland championships being played in 2020 — and that’s in hurling, camogie or men’s or ladies football.
‘I really don’t see the Championship going ahead. 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,’ said Downey.
On RTÉ radio, long-standing Meath analyst Colm O’Rourke said the decision to put all activity behind closed doors has put the GAA in a financial bind and make it impossible for counties to fund any inter-county return – without state aid. ‘The big issue is that it means county boards finances are going to be absolutely nil for the rest of the year. So there will be a massive hole in county board finances in order to run county teams for preparation for the championship which is coming up.
‘The Government have made a contribution of €40 million for the big organisations. I hope that, if there are no spectators, that they make an even bigger contribution because it will be badly needed.’
O’Rourke pointed out the allisland contradiction for crowd
limits with supporters only making up roughly half of the original 200 limit in the Republic of Ireland when the competing squads and match day personnel are included.
‘There seems to be a bit of a contradiction here when you look at the North of Ireland where there can be 400 at games and as well as that, we’re going to have schools back, with over 900 in my own school indoor and 50 going on buses. So it seems a bit of a contradiction that you can’t have 110 at an outdoor event.’