Cork legend Dinny Allen claims GAA should follow rugby example

DINNY ALLEN, one of Nemo Rangers’ most famous sons, was back on duty for the Cork club last night — this time in a policing role around the facilities. ‘We are actually doing a foot patrol out there trying to keep people out because there are people going in there drinking,’ explained the Cork legend (below) yesterday. ‘There are four of us going out tonight for two or three hours to just walk around the place.’ It is a reminder that even when the GAA is in lockdown, the work of its volunteers is never done. The issue of closed GAA pitches has moved up the agenda and is understood to have been discussed at Monday night’s meeting of the Covid-19 Preparation Committee. For now, no recommendation has been made to Croke Park’s management committee. The pressure on GAA chiefs has been cranked up by the IRFU statement on Monday in which rugby clubs were given the goahead to open up despite the sport not being due to return until August 10. ‘There is an appetite among clubs to facilitate physical activity for their members and the wider community. Rugby clubs play a vital role in the wider community as amenities for physical and mental wellbeing,’ the IRFU statement read. For club members like Allen, a similar initiative on the part of the GAA is something he would love to see happen — especially given the length of the lockdown so far. ‘You would nearly get used to it at this stage, but it is just horrible,’ explains the former Cork All-Ireland-winning captain. ‘I have not seen any member of the club for the past seven or eight weeks since the lockdown started. ‘I am retired a good while and I always loved to wander down and watching the lads training a couple of times a week and now that is gone. ‘When the GAA were discussing what to do, I was saying why not open the gates and let people in and just let them walk around the place and allow them do social distancing. ‘We are not going to have 5,000 people down there. Our membership is between 400 and 500 and, at the time, I wondered why not just open the gate for those people who wanted to go for a walk around. ‘It would be an exercise, but it would also be a connection for the older members. I am not talking about playing on it, but just for the supporters to walk around it. I really think there should be some discussion on it,’ added the 67-year-old. The issue was already raised earlier this month when GAA president John Horan and director general Tom Ryan hosted a remote meeting with county board chairmen, where it is understood that some counties requested that Croke Park examine opening up grounds specifically to facilitate those who are cocooning. However, the lack of insurance cover — the primary reason why the GAA have ignored the Government roadmap which allowed pitches to open this week and members to train in groups of four — is likely to be an impediment to the GAA following the IRFU’s lead. Beyond that, any opening of GAA grounds for walking would place the onus on club volunteers to police activity, which was one of the reasons why Croke Park did not want to burden clubs by sticking to the Government roadmap. Despite his frustration, Allen understands the GAA’s position. ‘There are no easy answers to any of this. There are fellows who come out with stuff and they make it sound very easy. There is no easy solution to this. ‘I don’t how they will ever get around this thing and get back training with groups of four, maybe with five or six different groups. It is just hard to imagine,’ says Allen, who is downbeat on the prospect of any action taking place on the pitch he now patrols. ‘I don’t think there is any hope. I just can’t see any games being played at all. ‘I would like to be more optimistic, but I just can’t see it happening. ‘You would really feel like throwing your hat at it. ‘It is difficult to figure out the plan that can get us back.’