GAA ‘a great social binder’
“THERE is far more important issues out there at the moment other than sport, and we should all be looking out for each other,” says Sligo Senior hurling boss, Daithí Hand amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
The man who led the Yeats county to Nicky Rackard glory last June maintains there are far more bigger things to be worrying about other than whether if and when games will be played.
“Look, similarly to what Paul (Taylor) said last week, what’s important now is that everyone is buying into the whole social distancing and the guidelines.
“I have two parents and one would not be in the best of health and like most people I’m worried about them.
“The lads know all about the guidelines and are very good in fairness, everyone is buying into it which is extremely important.
“We have a very young squad and like us all, they’ve never come across anything like this before.
“It is a hell of a wake up call and you really see what’s important and that is that everyone gets through this. It is good to see how important sport is to people though and how much they are missing it. The GAA is a great social binder and during times likes these that really comes across.”
Sligo were due to play Leitrim in the Allianz Hurling 3B league final the Sunday following the Government’s announcement that previous Thursday that all sporting fixtures were postponed as the country got to grips with trying to curtail the spread of Covid-19.
“We were all set to play the league final and it was disappointing but sure we will see how it unfolds. Donegal won the 3A final, they played the week before us and some other finals such as the 2A between Kerry and Antrim have still to be played as well.
“So hopefully if we are out of this by say the end of May or June that they go ahead and play them,” Hand said.
Sligo were also due to get their Christy Ring campaign started the second weekend in May at home to Wicklow and like all sporting fixtures, it’s unknown when they will be played as Ireland combats the spread of Covid-19.
With no games and no training sessions allowed, the manager said he’s been impressed with his players’ enthusiasm and efforts at keeping up their own individual fitness regimes at home. “I suppose the way we look at it the big thing is that many of the players have gym equipment at home, so they can do the basics.
“They are also posting their sessions so they can see what they others are doing. We were lucky that Peter (Galvin ) and myself had met with Sean Flannery 2 weeks ago and Sean had prepared a gym phase programme for players to do at home and there was a video of him doing it, so that’s a great help.
“The players are all sending videos on WhatsApp of whatever exercises and weights they are doing, and that’s very good too,” the manager points out.
He said that hurlers might have a slight advantage over footballers when it comes to training at home in terms of improving and practising their wall ball skills.
“I think hurlers are lucky in the sense they can keep practising their wall ball skills, keeping their touch and technical skills up, it’s that bit harder for footballers.
“Of course we are all missing the rapport as a group, but it is what it is we are in regular contact and that’s important.”
Hand also says in times like these it’s also a good way for players to get creative in not only how they are training from home, but also in terms of nutrition too.
“The lads have been very good in fairness. Aoife Clancy, our nutritionist has put a programme together challenging them with daily diets and so forth.
“You can be quite creative and innovative. There is always stuff to be done, but in saying that there are far more important things at the moment,” Hand says.
He teaches Irish and History in the Mercy College and is also organising classes online for his students at home during the pandemic to keep them occupied.
He says the main priority is that people stay safe and adhere to the social distancing guidelines. “It is not a bad time too for reflection, reset the batteries and all that,” he added.