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The Corona Virus And Possible Effects To GAA Matches

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Replying To updwell: " Replying To Saynothing: "[quote=KillingFields: "Inter county games dont have level 5 clearance The GAA has been forced to once again delay the resumption of inter-county action, raising the spectre of another 'club first' season with championships, and possibly leagues, being played later in the year as they were in 2020. A meeting of the GAA's Covid Advisory committee this evening digested talks between leading GAA officials and Government that took place earlier this week where it was made clear that under current Level Five restrictions, there was no clearance for inter-county games to proceed. The GAA had sought clarity on the status of its inter-county games which had got clearance during the previous Level Five lockdown from October to December. But with stricter measures in place to suppress the virus, the advice for the GAA was not to resume as early as planned, even though rugby at international and provincial level continues and the League of Ireland is due to commence at the end of March. link" Seems like the only way inter-county will start is for GAA to pay players even a £ 1 or € 1 a week.Then they could be classed as paid players. GAA getting left behind and lots of players could just hang them up." Langford town v Cabinteely is elite while Dublin v Kerry isn't.....really NPHET. Zero Covid is obviously the goal, and nothing wrong with that,but at what price to mental and physical health."]Longford town and Cabinteely are professional or semi pro at least and its players livelihoods etc at risk with no games KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3746 - 10/02/2021 21:46:03 2330966 Link
I don't understand this development, what has changed between last November and now that has led to this change in status? What was the standard used for classing a sport/competition as elite? Marlon_JD (Tipperary) - Posts: 1823 - 10/02/2021 21:57:26 2330969 Link
Cork and Down meeting up for sessions hardly helped in the Elite phasing.. FoolsGold (Cavan) - Posts: 2874 - 10/02/2021 22:37:13 2330973 Link
Replying To KillingFields: " Replying To updwell: "[quote=Saynothing: "[quote=KillingFields: "Inter county games dont have level 5 clearance The GAA has been forced to once again delay the resumption of inter-county action, raising the spectre of another 'club first' season with championships, and possibly leagues, being played later in the year as they were in 2020. A meeting of the GAA's Covid Advisory committee this evening digested talks between leading GAA officials and Government that took place earlier this week where it was made clear that under current Level Five restrictions, there was no clearance for inter-county games to proceed. The GAA had sought clarity on the status of its inter-county games which had got clearance during the previous Level Five lockdown from October to December. But with stricter measures in place to suppress the virus, the advice for the GAA was not to resume as early as planned, even though rugby at international and provincial level continues and the League of Ireland is due to commence at the end of March. link" Seems like the only way inter-county will start is for GAA to pay players even a £ 1 or € 1 a week.Then they could be classed as paid players. GAA getting left behind and lots of players could just hang them up." Langford town v Cabinteely is elite while Dublin v Kerry isn't.....really NPHET. Zero Covid is obviously the goal, and nothing wrong with that,but at what price to mental and physical health."]Longford town and Cabinteely are professional or semi pro at least and its players livelihoods etc at risk with no games"]Professional sports people can get Covid too as has happened multiple times in provincial rugby. Comparing club rugby to Intercounty GAA isn't a fair comparison either. updwell (Limerick) - Posts: 898 - 10/02/2021 22:42:19 2330974 Link
Replying To Marlon_JD: "I don't understand this development, what has changed between last November and now that has led to this change in status? What was the standard used for classing a sport/competition as elite?" Higher number of cases and the new variants of covid that now exist. Cork and Down being caught meeting up, might not have helped either. I imagine professional sports where players, coaches are full time and can isolate themselves and reduce their contacts a bit more/easier than amateur athletes who also have jobs to go to KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3746 - 10/02/2021 22:43:19 2330975 Link
Marlon jd I was thinking the same myself..who has told our government that Gaa is now a no,no..I take it this is a nphet decision and maybe the reasons will come out..I agree to how can 1st division soccer be declared elite?maybe I'm looking at this completely wrong.. CTGAA10 (Limerick) - Posts: 2503 - 10/02/2021 23:00:07 2330979 Link
Can't understand why the government has changed the county teams being elite. Thought the championship ran off very well last year and the matches would provide a good distraction for supporters. carlovia (None) - Posts: 1536 - 10/02/2021 23:47:00 2330981 Link
Replying To Marlon_JD: "I don't understand this development, what has changed between last November and now that has led to this change in status? What was the standard used for classing a sport/competition as elite?" Number of cases. Wanting to reduce travel etc and as players still have jobs etc its harder to do No idea on standard used to class sport as elite but a pro sport has obvious advantages considering with a squad of 30+ players these players wont also be going into 20-30 other workplaces etc The training pitch is their workplace. it isnt with gaa players KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3746 - 11/02/2021 00:06:47 2330986 Link
Replying To Marlon_JD: "I don't understand this development, what has changed between last November and now that has led to this change in status? What was the standard used for classing a sport/competition as elite?" I'd imagine the fact that this strain is much more lethal. I know people in their early 20s in hospital the last week with difficulty breathing...one a GAA player. It's frustrating and annoying but look Easter is only 7 weeks away. At least we have something to aim for and may get back on the club fields then training. yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11551 - 11/02/2021 07:05:37 2330990 Link
I have lost any faith I had in the current government. This isn't me being a partisan GAA supporter either, throwing toys out of the pram because there has been a further delay to the resumption of GAA activity. I will accept that the EU hasn't covered themselves in glory with the way vaccine supply is being handled. However, by my count there have now been three statements from government officials as to when those aged over 70 will be vaccinated. The first indicated that it would be mid March, last week it was mid-April, and now we're hearing it's going to be mid-June. Christ above, we'll ALL be over 70 by the time they get things sorted out. I still believe that strict measures are required to reduce both the case number and mortality rates. But the problem I have is that the government appear to have no plan beyond that. If the vaccination program was being stepped up aggressively in parallel I could understand it. But it's not. We're just plodding along and destined to endure another year like 2020, possibly even worse. All the while on one hand we have guys like McConkey on live radio saying that the pandemic restrictions might be with us for 3-5 years. On the other, we have Luke O'Neill saying we'll be able to enjoy beers in beer gardens this summer. Paper never refused ink and all that. But I just get the ominous feeling that there is a real simmering discontent brewing. People are fed up with the lack of transparency and clarity. I know that no-one has a crystal ball, and accurate predictions 4 weeks into the future are a waste of time with this virus. But our elected government are very well compensated. They are paid to lead. They are paid to look after the citizens of this country and in my estimation they are falling a long way short of doing that. Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9746 - 11/02/2021 09:00:32 2330994 Link
Replying To Marlon_JD: "I don't understand this development, what has changed between last November and now that has led to this change in status? What was the standard used for classing a sport/competition as elite?" I obviously don't know, but I would assume the new variant is part of it. Apparently the level of close contacts that test positive has doubled with the new variant, which would obviously have a huge knock on effect for any group gatherings. I would imagine they've decided to prioritise professional sports in this context, as people depend on pro sports for their livelihoods. To be honest, the impact on the relatively small number of county players isn't a major concern compared to the potential impact on the club season. If they won't even countenance inter county team training until early April, what chance does the club game stand? Westy (Westmeath) - Posts: 39 - 11/02/2021 09:16:17 2330996 Link
Never mind inter county action which most of the people obsess about on here, Im away more worried about the effects on the average joe soap club player who accounts for 98% of the playing population.. if there is no club action this year apart from the mental health impact on players I also worry about the small clubs up and down the country and the effects this will have on them for years to come.. players will be lost and never return back to play.. a lot of small clubs will struggle to field teams going forward so this should be the GAA's biggest concern along with mental health.. mick2007 (Monaghan) - Posts: 570 - 11/02/2021 09:19:02 2330998 Link
Replying To KillingFields: "Higher number of cases and the new variants of covid that now exist. Cork and Down being caught meeting up, might not have helped either. I imagine professional sports where players, coaches are full time and can isolate themselves and reduce their contacts a bit more/easier than amateur athletes who also have jobs to go to" League of Ireland are not all professional I work with 3 lads who play league of Ireland football theyoungbuck89 (Galway) - Posts: 59 - 11/02/2021 09:57:10 2331003 Link
Replying To theyoungbuck89: "League of Ireland are not all professional I work with 3 lads who play league of Ireland football" League of Ireland not as risky as GAA. Not many play it and less interaction in the community. The GAA is present in every parish in the country. yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11551 - 11/02/2021 10:04:33 2331006 Link
Replying To theyoungbuck89: "League of Ireland are not all professional I work with 3 lads who play league of Ireland football" Yes, allowing LOI to go ahead, and not GAA is a bizarre decision. And regarding rugby, if the international squad is allowed draft in new players midweek (as currently happens) doesn't that undermine the "bubble" argument? Surely a new player would have to be quarantined for two weeks before being allowed to join this mythical bubble. I assume provincial rugby players are also living normally with their families between games? football first (None) - Posts: 1259 - 11/02/2021 10:08:18 2331007 Link
This is a bad decision by the Government. OK, so what are the alternatives. Well a league type program in the Summer is the best bet. With a cup competition in the Autumn and winter. It is like they are trying to ban GAA if you ask me. A petty and vindictive government is pumping millions into Rugby and Soccer and leaving the GAA to it's own devices. I hope this is remembered come election time. Anyway the good news is that this gives the GAA a chance to revamp the League and All Ireland. It is a chance to tackle Dubs dominance too. Finally the Clubs needs some help too. galwayford (Galway) - Posts: 2614 - 11/02/2021 10:11:31 2331009 Link
Replying To carlovia: "Can't understand why the government has changed the county teams being elite. Thought the championship ran off very well last year and the matches would provide a good distraction for supporters." This govt is influenced by the N.I unionists. They don't like GAA and Varadkar, Martin and Ryan want to impress them. They do play Rugby and Soccer, and so those games are given the go ahead. galwayford (Galway) - Posts: 2614 - 11/02/2021 10:14:03 2331010 Link
Soccer teams and players are going to have to travel for matches to..as another poster said he's working with 3 so called semi pro soccee players..I'm like an earlier poster,have lost all faith no matter how small it was,in this government..how many different dates have they mentioned?its going to be next to impossible to run off all club competitions. CTGAA10 (Limerick) - Posts: 2503 - 11/02/2021 10:19:49 2331012 Link
Replying To Marlon_JD: "I don't understand this development, what has changed between last November and now that has led to this change in status? What was the standard used for classing a sport/competition as elite?" Covid changes stuff at the drop of a hat. But, as cases fall, I'm not seeing why there should be more restrictions than there were three or four months ago. lionofludesch (Down) - Posts: 475 - 11/02/2021 10:35:48 2331013 Link
The new variants would be have a big issue. A lot of the cases in January related to the Uk variant. South African and Brazilian also. These weren't mentioned or an issue back in November. The governments slack approach to travel hasn't helped. FoolsGold (Cavan) - Posts: 2874 - 11/02/2021 10:49:48 2331016 Link