GAA chief refused to watch team win title in Covid row

Offaly GAA refutes claims over safety

THE manager of an Offaly Gaelic football team refused to watch his players win the county f i nal yesterday because he didn’t think that they would be safe from Covid-19.

Shane Curran sharply criticised the Offaly county board for allowing yesterday’s Senior B final between Durrow and Gracefield go ahead despite a coronavirus scare in the Durrow club.

Mr Curran, a former Roscommon goalkeeper, said he would not be attending in protest at the ‘blatant disregard to public health’ being shown by Offaly GAA.

In an emotional post on Twitter, he wrote that it was ‘without a doubt the most difficult tweet I’ve ever had to publish’.

‘Have taken a decision to step away f rom County F[ ootball] tomorrow in light of blatant disregard to public health of players of the Durrow GAA & Gracefield GAA by Offaly GAA. We’re either serious or not about Cv-19.’

He added: ‘2 positive tests in the club f ollowed up today with

‘No respect for players’

another close contact player – no result until Monday at the earliest.’

Mr Curran claimed there was no reference to HSE protocols and a cautious precedent set in Kerry after a coronavirus scare had not been followed.

He also said: ‘I ask the following question – Why are these players, families, clubs, officials put at risk when known positive case and close contact in system?

‘Reckless endangerment with little or no respect for players.

‘No club should be put in this position on eve of a final.’

He added: ‘Finally for Senior B Final to go ahead – This is wrong on so many levels.’

But Offaly GAA released a statement refuting his claims.

‘Offaly GAA would like to clarify the situation regarding Durrow GAA following speculation on social media overnight,’ it said.

‘No member of the Durrow GAA Senior Football panel has tested positive for Covid-19.

‘Offaly GAA were made aware of a positive case connected with the Durrow club that resulted in one senior panel member being identified as a “Close Contact”.

‘This player was subsequently tested and received a negative result. As per HSE guidelines, this player must restrict his movements for 14 days. At all times through this pandemic, Offaly GAA has strictly followed GAA and HSE guidelines in relation to Covid-19.

‘Since GAA activities restarted in June, we have advised that the safe return to contact sports is the personal responsibility of each player and backroom member.’

Offaly GAA chairman Michael Duignan said: ‘ Over the l ast number of weeks we’ve had a number of Covid situations in clubs. We had to suspend underage activity the week before last – we called off underage for five or six days because we were a bit unclear about a few cases.

‘So we’re trying to deal with every situation on its merits.

‘The last thing I would do is put anybody’s health at risk and create any public health issues.

‘From the information that we have, that we received from Durrow GAA club and the player himself, there is no issue.

‘The player that was positive had nothing to do with the senior panel and his brother tested negative and is in isolation anyway.’

Durrow won the game by eight points, 2-13 to 2-5, in O’Connor Park, Tullamore.

‘Deal with every situation on merits’