SIDELINES
Don’t hold your breath for GAA action in 2020
If the hard decision to cancel sporting leagues and championships needs to be made, hopefully the call will come at the earliest possible moment, so people can get their heads around it, accept it and move on.
Dragging on and wading through the murky waters of uncertainty will only add to the frustration for players, mentors and supporters alike.
On the plus side, we will be able to observe how other countries, who are a few weeks ahead of us in the process, manage as they take steps on the road to recovery, although it may not be prudent to draw parallels with the experiences of professional sports.
Patience is certainly a virtue. The young lad reminded me of that at the weekend when he celebrated what was supposed to be his Communion in the best of spirits, and when we get the chance to do it all properly, we’ll make sure it’s a day to remember.
There will be plenty of good days to come in sporting spheres too and I, for one, will cherish every single second.
Stay safe and sensible.
Cusack Park in Mullingar was eerily quiet on the day it was due to host Louth’s Leinster SFC opener against Longford. Picture: Ben McShane / SPORTSFILE
FOLLOWING Leo Varadkar’s address to the nation on May 1st there was quiet optimism amongst the public that life, and indeed sport, could slowly begin to return to some sort of normality later in 2020. THE Government’s five phase road map set out tangible plans to gradually lift the restrictions beginning with the first stage on May 18th, and the final stage hopefully kicking in on August 10th. THOSE plans, however, were contingent on there being no spike in infections as a result of the phased lifting of restrictions. The Taoiseach, speaking on the Late Late Show the following evening even raised the possibility of the All Ireland final being played later in the year.
Non-contact sports like golf and tennis would be the first in line for a return with the GAA and soccer seasons possibly reopening on July 20th.
Sports pitches will be allowed re-open on May 18th with players allowed in non-contact training in groups of up to four people.
By June 8th teams will be allowed return in ‘small’ groups, but again only in a non-contact environment, before a return to action on July 20th when in theory restrictions will be lifted to permit ‘sports team leagues’ like GAA and soccer resume.
It’s my feeling that Varadkar’s announcement took Croke Park bosses a little by surprise.
How practical it is for social distancing protocols to be maintained at club level and how a stringent testing process could be controlled and monitored by amateur volunteers across the country is most unclear.
Given the manageable numbers, this could really only be done at intercounty level.
Speaking about a host of issues last night in the first episode of the new series of The Sunday Game, GAA President John Horan poured cold water on the possibilities of an early return while social distancing measures are still in place.
Horan said he does not expect football or hurling to resume within the current restrictions. He discussed at length the careful approach the GAA will take to a return to action and cast further doubt on playing behind closed doors or in sparsely filled stadiums.
He was adamant also that the 2020 championship must start this year in order for it to be completed and admitted it was unlikely the remainder of the Alianz Leagues would be finished (good news hopefully for Louth).
His message was also clear on the priority club football will take over the inter-county game. Club football will be the first to resume with no return to inter-county action until October at the earliest.
While saying that all timelines and schedules had the capacity to change, his tone of voice and body language suggested an unlikely return of GAA games in 2020.
There was also reference to the potential financial loss to the Association of a cancelled 2020 fixtures calendar. Various figures from €50 to €75m have been mentioned but the bottom line is that grant funding for various units and project will be hit.
The GAA doesn’t hold large reserves. It distributes its money out on an annual basis. Just where that leaves Louth GAA and our new stadium project is unclear at this stage.
Whether you agree with the approach or not, strong leadership was required by the players and membership.
There should now be no ambiguity. As long as social distancing measures continue to be a requirement in combating COVID-19 then there will be no GAA activity – training nor matches, club nor inter-county.
Just for the record Louth were due to play Longford yesterday in the opening round of the Leinster Championship while Monaghan were to play Cavan in Ulster.