Young against Gaelic games going on behind closed doors
Kerry star says players’ lives could be compromised
ALL-IRELAND senior medal winner Killian Young says any plans by the GAA to play football matches behind closed doors, while the COVID-19 remains a real risk to people’s health, would be “detrimental” and a “dangerous situation”.
As it stands, the GAA have not put forward any proposal as to when and Gaelic games – football or hurling, club or inter-county – might resume, and any decisions of any kind are not expected before May 5 when the current Governement-led protocols around social distancing are set to lapse.
Nonetheless, there is speculation – and hope – that playing activity would resume at some stage during the summer months, and that All-Ireland Championship can yet be completed this year. On Sunday last, however, Minister for Health Simon Harris said it was “highly unlikely we’re going to be seeing very large mass gatherings this year”, comments that could be intrepreted as there being no scope for GAA matches to be played in front of any size crowd, while the very notion of matches taking place at all – which would involve up to 100 people coming together – might seem fanciful too.
Speaking to The Kerryman about the on-going lock-down and the prospect of any sort of Championship being played this year, Young said: “We are currently faced with the unknown. We have never travelled this road before and as such it is impossible to forecast when players get back to competitive action. It will most certainly be at least July, if not longer.
“The reality is that this decision is not in the hands of the GAA, but rather at the expert discretion of the HSE officials who will be cognisant of the overriding issues at stake such as the welfare of players, officials and the general public. At the end of the day, sport is at the bottom of the major concerns surrounding COVID-19. Public health is the priority.”
As for any notion of an All-Ireland Championship being played behind closed doors, Young believes this is not the answer.
“This would be a detrimental move by the GAA. There would still be thirty players on the field at any one time grappling with each other, spitting and sweating. Players’ lives could be compromised. This is a dangerous situation. All the players have family and parents at home, they need to think of them and the dangers posed by playing competitive sport too soon. Let’s all be patient for everyone’s sake,” he said.
“Ride the current storm and be patient. Life will go on again but at the moment sport, and in particular Gaelic games, should not be a priority in our life. Our focus needs to be on saving lives and ensuring the safety of our family, our friends and our community.”