Celbridge senior football manager Dave Clare says it’s time for the Government to allow spectators to return to GAA matches.

Clare was speaking after his side defeated Round Towers by 1-13 to 1-5 yesterday in the second round of the Kildare SFC - a competition which was allowed to resume after restrictions on the county were lifted at the beginning of the month.

However, with crowd restrictions forcing matches to take place behind closed doors, Clare revealed that he had to tell a few of his players that they couldn’t attend yesterday’s game.

"I had to tell four of my squad that they couldn't come here today," he told RTÉ Radio 1's Sunday Sport.

"Just terrible stuff and they're some of the worst phone calls I made.

"Conor Doyle, I'll namecheck him, got his cruciate done and I had to ring him and tell him, 'No, you can't come, Conor'."

He continued: "Football is escapism for all of us, whether you are a supporter, player or manager. We all absolutely need it. It's where we get an escape from the trials and tribulations of life. We come out here and watch our team.

"It's about time the government start trusting us, that we can actually deal with it (the Covid-19 pandemic). Let the supporters back in.

"Give us a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel. Let us prioritise our club members and let us get people back in here, club members who supported us through thick and thin, they need to be here."

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