Attendance limit to pose problems for first round games

WEXFORD GAA officials have some difficult decisions to make over the coming days. With the opening round of club hurling championship games due to get under way on Friday, July 17, the county management committee is faced with a real dilemma to remain within the Covid-19 attendance guidelines.

Mass gatherings should be organised in advance and follow public health advice for Covid-19, including advice on physical distancing. Gatherings should be no more than 50 people indoors or 200 people outdoors.

As supporters begin to look forward to a return to live action following the Covid-19 lockdown, they may have to wait a little longer to whet their appetites.

These are uncertain days for followers but, with a 200 attendance limit, the likelihood of a support base for the opening round hurling games seems as far off as ever.

That 200 attendance level includes team squads, backroom mentors, physios, doctor, club officers. These numbers will be added to by match officials, referee, four umpires, two linesmen, press, sponsors, stewards and County Board officers, leaving little room for manoeuvre when it comes to ticket allocation for supporters.

Now it looks as if only a limited number of fans will enter grounds for club championship games for the first time following an absence of many months. The limits will be strictly adhered to in order to assist in maintaining social distancing and keeping to the recommended guidelines to ensure the safety of everyone at all times.

At this stage it looks as if grassroots supporters will have to wait a little longer before they are afforded the opportunity to support their local club, although it’s expected that the 200 limit will be increased to 500 over the coming weeks.

For the present, supporters will be confined to watching live coverage of St. Martin’s beginning the defence of their title against once kingpins, Oulart-The Ballagh, on TG4 on the opening Friday evening from Chadwicks Wexford Park.

At the time of writing on Monday morning, Wexford GAA had still to issue a statement offering guidelines for their opening round hurling championship and what’s best for supporters.

They also have to deal with the thorny issue of the supporter’s pass, of which many hundreds were sold, while there’s also the matter of free passes and old age pensioners to be resolved.

On a sad note, Wexford GAA lost another hurling legend with the passing of Shelmaliers clubman Jack Harding last week.

Jack will be fondly remembered for his contribution to Wexford’s All-Ireland hurling final victory over Tipperary in 1960. Having taken over the number 14 jersey not long after the retirement of the legendary Nickey Rackard, the bold Shelmaliers man filled it with distinction as he helped in adding to Wexford’s All-Ireland haul.

Wexford had many heroes on the day, but one will always recall the clash of Jack and Tipperary full-back Michael Maher on the edge of the square. Harding gained recognition for his hard pulling on the low ball, his ability to gather possession and find better-placed colleagues.

He may not have been a scoring machine like Rackard, but his ability to involve others around him and create space for his forward colleagues were hallmarks of his all-round play.

I had the privilege of watching that All-Ireland final clash from behind the Railway End goal, in a special area designated for under-age groups. During those years when Wexford were involved, the Kilmore club always sought to bring their Rackard League-winning teams to the All-Ireland final day, which afforded me the opportunity of witnessing that marvellous victory.

As Wexford played into the Railway End goal in the second-half, I had a first-class view of those goalmouth clashes which were mouth-watering to say the least.

At club level, Jack helped his beloved Shelmaliers to Junior success. He will be fondly remembered Over The Water as a player who brought All-Ireland glory to the parish.

A warm and gentle man, he always had a welcome for you when attending games at their home venue. There are still three surviving members of that 1960 starting team: Pat Nolan, Jimmy O’Brien and Oliver McGrath.

Go ndéana Dia trócaire ar a anam.