Should games be played behind closed doors?

With the GAA looking at plans of how to progress the season, we asked three players if they would be interested in Having games behind closed doors

Conor Boyle (Monaghan)

“Even if you play games behind closed doors you are still exposing players to risk.”

What are the positives of playing games behind closed doors?

It is a way out. All the players are just mad to get out playing again. That would be an option to allow it to happen. It’s not as simple as that but the thought of getting out and playing is great. It’s not just players who are keen to get out playing. Supporters want it. You just miss that aspect of things. Everyone wants to get back to normality. The real question is how safe it would be.

What are the negatives of playing games behind closed doors?

The obvious one is whether it is safe or not. I know that the Monaghan team there are a lot of boys who are living with people who are high risk. There are a few boys who are working on the front line of the hospital. Even if you play games behind closed doors you are still exposing players to risk. You would have 40 boys in a dressing room with the back room team. I don’t know how it would be possible to expose boys to that dressing room environment. I don’t know what way it would work. A closed-door match sounds great, but I am just imagining the amount of contact. It doesn’t get much closer if you are talking about spreading viruses. Unless maybe in a month or two if there was stream lined testing, you could maybe test everyone who would be in the dressing rooms before hand. But that would be a logistical nightmare. Supporters are mad to see the games. Monaghan Cavan in the first round, so many would be looking forward to that game. I couldn’t imagine that game going ahead with no one in the stands. I can’t imagine any footballer enjoying playing in that environment.

What alternatives are there?

In any sort of game you are putting people at risk. Unless there was a way where everyone could be tested the day before, then get players out playing.

So are you for or against playing behind closed doors?

I would be for it, if the precautions were made to protect people. If there was some way to ensure the safety of players then I would be for playing.

Thomas Galligan (Cavan)

“Going and playing at a packed Clones is a big

advantage to Monaghan.”

What are the positives of playing games behind closed doors?

The positives are actually playing the games. All the players want to get back out playing football. I know it is not great playing behind closed doors, but I am sure all the players would love to get back out playing or training or getting back out doing something because we all love to play football, regardless whether it is in front of people or not. All we love to do is play football. Once you are representing your county it should mean something whether there is a crowd there or not.

It is hard to put your head down and do gym when there is very little football. Coming in at this time of the year, it is usually all ball skills in training. It is especially hard when you see this weather we are having. You couldn’t write it. It’s not too hot. It’s just nice and sunny and dry.

What are the negatives of playing games behind closed doors?

The negatives are for the supporters, they don’t get to go to the games. The atmosphere at the game (with no fans) wouldn’t be hectic compared to an actual championship game. There’d be a big difference between the atmosphere of a first round game against Monaghan in Clones which was full to one with no one at it. It would be different. Players would get on with it, but it would be different. You couldn’t mention to supporters that they would miss a clash between Cavan and Monaghan. If there was a big upset in a championship match it would mean a lot less if the game was played with no supporters at it. It also takes away home advantage. Going and playing at a packed Clones is a big advantage to Monaghan. Going and playing at an empty Clones, it’s just a field. At the end of the day the GAA is in a bit of a hole. They can’t control the virus. They just have to make the best of a bad situation.

What alternatives are there?

I don’t see you can have an alternative other than playing, unless they just don’t have games this year and leave the rest of the season to the clubs. That would be disheartening after the whole year of training, to then turn round and have no championship. That’s what we train for. The league is a warm up for the championship. At the end of the day the health and safety of the people going to the games is more important than the games themselves.

So are you for or against playing behind closed doors?

As a footballer I would love it if the games went ahead even if they were behind closed doors, just to get playing football. But I can see why the game wouldn’t go ahead at the same time. If you ask if I would prefer to play behind closed doors or in front of a crowd, then I would say I would prefer to play in front of a crowd. But if you say play no championship, or play behind closed doors, then I say play behind closed doors. It’s the best of a bad lot. It’s better than playing no championship.

Niall Keenan (Derry)

“I imagine it would be hard to get yourself going and get yourself motivated.”

What are the positives of playing games behind closed doors?

I think it would be a positive if that is the only option. I think most people would like to get some football this year, and if that is the only option then so be it. It’s not ideal. I honestly don’t see a major difference in having 15 men marking 15 men tight, as compared to having some fans there, with regards to passing the virus on. If it comes to it, and that’s the only option then I would be more than happy to play. We are scundered not playing at the moment. The positive would be that it would be good to get back going. I’m sure that there are boys out there who are struggling mentally. There are boys who look forward to this. I know I am always looking forward to the next game, especially the next championship game. It would be nice to get back going again. Since I started playing football at school, I’ve never really had any breaks. It’s not something that you are used to.

What are the negatives of playing games behind closed doors?

It wouldn’t be the same. The big thing about championship is you get that big crowd there on the day. It’s hard to imagine a game without a big crowd. Even that tiny bit of atmosphere gives you that push. It’s hard to know because I’ve never experienced it (a championship game with no crowd), I imagine it would be hard to get yourself going and get yourself motivated, and to know how the game is going. I have played in three big championship games first rounds. Even marching around the pitch is different gravy to league football. It is what you look forward to, having that crowd there.

What alternatives are there?

This is the same as the question about fixtures, you can’t please everyone. Something is going to have to give, either getting rid of club football, or pushing it to later in the season. Some people might struggle if you push it to later in the season. Having the season so quickly back to back could be a negative for some people. I don’t have the answers. I know there are boys around our club who are itching to get at it. They are running the roads and keeping fit. The reason they are doing that is to get back out and to play football. So it would be a massive blow to them if they weren’t able to do that. It would be good to give back to the clubs, but there is no ideal situation here. I would love to play county and I would love to play club. I wouldn’t like to be the one to choose. It would be nice to give club the priority as that would mean that everyone would get to play football.

So are you for or against playing games behind closed doors?

Yes. If it is a choice between playing behind closed doors, or not at all, then I would rather play behind closed doors. But it wouldn’t be the same.