Players will feel pressure to take risks – Donnelly

By Ronan Scott

FERMANAGH are one of the teams who could be under undue pressure when county football resumes.

According to Eoin Donnelly, the Erne county players might feel forced to take risks in order to help their county overcome a relegation battle, which Fermanagh are currently facing in Division Two.

He thinks that the GAA should look at relaxing rules so that players don’t feel the need to play if they don’t want to.

Donnelly said that if relegation rules from the leagues remain in place this year, county players would feel duty bound to play.

“To relegate teams this year, you are putting pressure on teams.

“Fermanagh are in a relegation dog-fight, but if players feel that they don’t feel happy about playing, they are going to turn out to be scapegoats if Fermanagh don’t get safe.

“That’s something that I am aware of, but not everyone might be aware of.”

He said that the onus is on the GAA to take that pressure away from players, and perhaps relax rules on relegations.

And he said that would help counties like Fermanagh.

“If you are on a county that has a smaller pick there might be an inferred pressure to play. Supporters, sponsors, managers, teammates, social media – they expect players to represent their county.”

Donnelly said that he thinks that the GAA should take the lead from what some county boards are doing.

“I admire the counties that have said that they are not going to have promotions this year.

“I know you have to have promotions. But your team won’t be punished if they can’t play. Counties need to take that on board.”

However, he accepts that there is a pressure on the executive committees.

“I am sure that there is pressure on the GAA to get these games played. I do think that when there are a couple of games left for counties, relegation and promotion are fine margins.

“I do think that players will feel pressure because of that.

“The league is important for teams at the middle level. That’s how teams develop. You have to put in years of building. Moving up and down a league can have a massive effect on a team’s structures.”

Donnelly is well placed to understand the risks of playing, as he is a Type 1 diabetic.

“There are risks. You have to think about contact with family members and relatives.

“Football is a hobby at the end of the day. You don’t want to put other people at risk.

“If the GAA says that football is coming back there is that pressure to opt in. You are maybe put under pressure. If you think that the risks outweigh the benefits then that’s when you could be put under pressure.”

Despite the pressures, the big positive is the signs that football is returning.

“It’s good to know that things are going in the right direction.

“It’s a reflection on society that things are improving.

“They wouldn’t be talking about a return to play if things weren’t improving. We didn’t know what was going to happen in March, but it is refreshing to know now that things are being talked about, and things are getting better.”

r.scott@gaeliclife.com