GAA needs to grasp the nettle in relation to return of crowds
Inside Track with John McIntyre
IF the GAA wants crowds coming through their turnstiles at some stage of the summer, they must take the bull by the horns and seize the initiative. Waiting around for our risk-adverse and ultra-cautious Government to open sporting venues to supporters will only lead to empty terraces for way longer than is necessary.
A few weeks ago, Leinster Rugby made a proposal to Government about hosting one of their matches in May in front of a 2,000 attendance. It remains to be seen whether that objective gets official blessing from Dáil Éireann, but at least a ball has been hopped. Now, it’s time for the GAA to follow suit.
Proposing to host a National League hurling or football game next month before a limited attendance would at least force our politicians to focus on the issue. If such a fixture got the green light, it would surely hasten a more general return of fans to GAA venues up and down the country.
The GAA has been beyond reproach in its handling of the pandemic – the organisation was not to blame for post-match county final celebrations which led to the plug being pulled on the club championship programme last winter. Every Government stipulation or restriction has been met. Like other sporting bodies, the GAA saw the bigger picture out there.
But it’s now past time to change the rules of engagement. Last month, there was a hysterical reaction to the Dublin and Monaghan footballers coming together for modified training sessions. I wasn’t upset or offended; just surprised over the timing given that inter-county teams had already been cleared to officially return to the training ground a couple of weeks later.
Ultimately, all they were doing were pursuing healthy outdoors activity, but you’d swear the Monaghan and Dublin players had carried out some heinous crime. Like the rest of us mad into sport, they are just fed up of the inconsistent restrictions which is leading to growing public frustration and despair out there.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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