Ask The Players: Are you happy with the fixture proposals?

Are you happy with fixture proposals?

We asked a selection of intercounty players how they feel about the roadmap for the return to intercounty action

Dermot Malone (Monaghan): “I am cautious about going back to playing”

How do you feel about the return to action?

In one word: Cautious. I am cautious about going back to playing. We have to be aware that there could be a second wave of this virus. There is a level of risk when going back. I know that Gaelic players on the whole are low risk, because they are healthy and won’t have underlying illnesses that make them vulnerable. But they will have to go back to their families, and that could cause risk. I think if anyone were to catch it, and then pass it on to someone who is vulnerable, that would be unthinkable. That would be my concern. There is no data to suggest that going back will 100 per cent safe. I had good friend of mine, he passed away recently. If I felt that I had passed it on to him, that would be unforgivable.

What are the positives about the return to action?

There is the social aspect of it all. I went out for a game of golf recently and that was great, just to get talking to friends.

Are there any negatives about the return to action?

I think they should just leave it this year. I know the Premier League is coming back, but that is about jobs. They are taking a big risk. Going back and playing is taking a risk. I don’t think they have enough testing to keep track of it.

What are your thoughts about the various competition formats suggested? At club and county level.

I love the proposals. I think they are great. The Monaghan county board have been brilliant. The fact that they have set out a window of matches, and we know exactly when the games have to be played, and will be played, I think that’s great. I think that this is the format that should be used going forward. But I don’t think that they should implement it this year. They should use that format and push it to next year. I think the proposals are great, I’m just not sure that they should be squeezing them into the end of the year.

Joe Maskey (Antrim hurler) :

“The break from the games and training was great”

How do I feel about the return to action?

I’m pretty happy about returning to action now that there has been a set date for training and games to gradually be introduced. The break from the games and training was great in my opinion so I was delighted I got a bit of an off season as I’ve never got an off season before. I took three weeks off completely and now I’m in the middle of preparing for this season coming.

What are the positives to the return to action?

The positives for me is just to be back out on the pitch again soon hopefully. While the GAA pitches have been closed I’ve been doing my training anywhere I can find space to do them. I suppose the social aspect of it is important too, can’t wait for the first club training back to see who was putting in the work or who wasn’t.

Are there any negatives about returning to action?

There are a few as there is the possibility that there might be a second spike from this virus. If someone was to become seriously ill from training or playing a match in my eyes it wouldn’t be worth the risk. For example on our club team we have a player who is a doctor and he is working in the front line with this virus. So what happens in his scenario, does he have to make the decision himself to play or not? I don’t know if anyone knows the answer to that. Also players parents or other family members might be vulnerable to this and they could potentially bring the virus home.

What is your opinion from the various competition formats suggested?

All I’ve been hearing is rumours at the moment around my own county about what is going to happen. There’s another four or five weeks roughly anyway before games can start so I’m sure they’ll hopefully put a good format in that suits every club so at least they are getting games.

At county level we are in the league final and the Joe Mc Donagh. The format I suppose doesn’t matter too much because the team who has been individually putting in the work will probably come out on top and hopefully that is Antrim

Sarah Marley (Armagh ladies):

“Everyone needs to take individual responsibility for their health and be sensible”

How do you feel about the return to action?

I think both the GAA and LGFA have been working really hard together with medical advisers to see if return to play was an option. I know that as a player rep in the WGPA we have had a number of zoom meetings to discuss return to play and what we as players would feel comfortable with. We completed questionnaires which specifically asked when we as players would be comfortable returning and those results were taken on board.

The difficulty with everything is the changing nature of the virus and that we are largely guided by the medical experts but I think that the road map for return to play is very comprehensible. I have been fortunate that my sister is a physio at Craigavon Hospital and she has been great at providing guidance and assistance because this is very unknown territory.

I think that provided we all comply with the various phases set out by the association and the R rate stays below one a safe return to sport can be achieved. I think everyone needs to take individual responsibility for their health and be sensible. It will require players to be more alert and disciplined but I think that’s certainly achievable. I think if I had been told a month ago that sport would return I would have been very sceptical but I’ve personally missed the team aspect and the competitive edge! Although it has helped that my sisters play on the team as well so I’ve been able to maintain some level of family competition.

What are the positives about the return to action?

I think everyone is craving some sense of normalcy. The role that sport plays in terms of mental health is so important and also in terms of physical health. When teams set out their goals at the start of the year they are with a view to doing well in the championship and so to still have the prospect of a championship to play in whatever format that will be can only be good. Everyone wants to play championship!

Are there any negatives about the return to action?

The only negative I can possibly see is making sure that players ensure that they follow recommended guidance which will be unfamiliar. I think also that the associations will need to put in place procedures for players on teams that test positive and how that might effect fixtures. One of the biggest endorsements from the WGPA is that it is every player’s choice whether they feel safe returning to play and if not teams, mentors and other players should be respectful of that decision.

What are your thoughts about the various competition formats suggested? At club and county level. (Some counties have announced their formats and some haven’t)

I am aware of the extensive consultation process that our county board and executive have had. Our chairperson has asked both county and club players for their views on various options. We obviously have to co ordinate with Ulster LGFA for the Ulster Club Championship and ensure that training loads are adapted given the long lay off period some players may have had.

No decision has been reached about the county structure. We had been advised earlier in the year that the league was null and void. The Ulster Championship should have taken place at the weekend which is surreal. Again the WGPA have consulted with players on various formats which the LGFA are considering. Hopefully the championship will proceed in some format and still allow for an off season before the 2021 season!

Aidan Nugent (Armagh)

“If there are restrictions on crowd numbers it

can be very hard to

police this in rural clubs”

How do you feel about the return to action?

I think there is a lot of opinions flying about at the minute, but that is probably because everyone has different situations arising during the Covid 19 and at the minute. From my point of view I’m looking forward to getting back at it.

What are the positives about the return to action?

I’ve heard a few people talking about the cure could be worse than the disease, in a way that if everyone was kept any longer in lockdown and hadn’t the release of going back to the GAA, other problems could arise such as mental health issues. So I think a return will have a positive effect on not only the players but the community as a whole.

Are there any negatives about the return to action?

I suppose the negatives could be the policing of it at club level. If there are restrictions on crowd numbers it can be very hard to police this in rural clubs. Other negatives could be now that referees are now supposedly meant to be on the look out for people spitting during games? They’ve a tough enough job as it is especially with the rule changes never mind this to look out for.

What are your thoughts about the various competition formats suggested?

At club and county level. (Some counties have announced their formats and some haven’t). I think the GAA have a free run at it this year. I didn’t think the ‘super eights’ were going to last forever. So if they go with a straight knockout no back door and it brings back excitement and more interest in the game it could be something they might look at for next year. However if it doesn’t work, it’s easy for them take the approach of ‘we tried and it didn’t work’ and maybe look at other formats or stick with the ‘super eights’.

I think in Armagh we are running a straight knockout which I like, it means there is no second chances and you have to hit the ground running. This past few years there has been too many meaningless games in the group stages, where you could beat a team in the group stages and they could knock you out of the championship later on which I don’t think makes any sense at all.