TAKE YOUR POINTS: Quinn calls for changing rooms to be opened

Former Antrim player Joe Quinn says the situation in Ulster where some counties are not allowed to enter the changing rooms after games is ‘daft’.

He has called for common sense to be used and for clubs to be allowed to use changing rooms properly before and after games.

On September 3 Ulster GAA announced that from September 20 dressing rooms are only to be used before and after games but with a maximum occupancy of six people at any one time. In the north, dressing rooms are open but use should be avoided or minimised where possible.

Quinn, who played for Antrim for a decade, felt that the time had come to properly relax restrictions.

“I think that at this stage of the year it is daft. They can’t use the changing rooms but if they score a point they can jump all over each other. It makes no sense to me with all the legislation that has passed recently with all the night clubs and bars open. To keep players outside the changing rooms it has no rationale.”

Quinn felt that there are a number of negative impacts upon players that stem from these rules being enforced.

“Firstly there is the camaraderie element that is being missed out on. Then there is the fact that players are going home wet after training or a match. We all know how susceptible we are to catching a cold after a hard session. That is what is going to make it even worse especially when the nights are getting colder.”

Quinn made these points on the most recent episode of Take Your Points, Gaelic Life’s TV chat show which will be broadcast this weekend on NVTV (Freeview Channel 7, Virgin Media channel 159). Quinn joins host Ronan Scott and Gaelic Life columnist Cahal Carvill to discuss a number of issues including the proposals to change the format of the championship, Antrim’s form in the championship, and Dunloy’s success in the Antrim championship.

Listen to the show now on Spotify (you can also get the show on other podcast sites), or watch on You Tube. Links are below.