National Forum

Sligo Covid-19 Breakout

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Replying To Stmunnsriver:  "boycotting is the wrong way to say it, but iv no interest in watching games,"
No but spending your day talking about them on social media

Breezy (Limerick) - Posts: 1106 - 03/11/2020 21:08:55    2304952

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Match off I understand

David (Meath) - Posts: 566 - 03/11/2020 22:26:25    2304968

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The championship would be cancelled if this happened to Dublin.

Daith (Kildare) - Posts: 1126 - 03/11/2020 23:32:58    2304989

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Yep Match conceded by Sligo
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KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 1636 - 03/11/2020 23:51:37    2304994

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In the statement Sligo gaa let it known they extremely upset that the game wasn't rescheduled and are forced to give Galway the walkover.

The Connacht gaa need to step in here and show some leadership. With no supporters at games that Connacht semi final and final can be moved back. There is a 3 week gap between the Connacht final and All Ireland semi final.

The_analyser (Roscommon) - Posts: 2761 - 04/11/2020 00:47:58    2305003

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Not Sligo's fault here and I hope everyone involved recovers.

This shambles of a competition is going ahead for one reason.

Back in April or so John Horan appeared on the Sunday Game and stated that he couldn't see how there could possibly be a GAA championship if there was still social distancing in the community in the Autumn.

Then the government announce they will stump up the millions for it go ahead.

Now to hell with the social distancing.....there's money available......full steam ahead.

Inter county GAA sees itself as so far above the mere mortals that it can do what it wants......now there are levels at the inter county stage too......there are provisions for the big revenue-generating semi finals and finals to be refixed but we can plough on without the Sligos of this world.

Kudos to clubs getting involved in their communities during the first lockdown in March, but in general the GAA have acted shamefully during this whole thing.

Greenfield (Meath) - Posts: 413 - 04/11/2020 09:00:09    2305008

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This game could be accommodated as there are spare weeks between Connacht final and AI semi as well as AI semi and final. I assume those weeks are being kept for when a game involving a big county is impacted. That question should be put to the GAA HQ but it wont now if Sligo have forfeited

unclegerry (Mayo) - Posts: 1198 - 04/11/2020 09:16:33    2305011

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Replying To Breezy:  "No but spending your day talking about them on social media"
is that the best retort u could come up with? not very original OR witty are u son?

Stmunnsriver (Wexford) - Posts: 1925 - 04/11/2020 09:16:48    2305012

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Very disappointed for Sligo and the Championship as a whole to see a team pull out already. From a more selfish point of view, it's also poor preparation for Galway to go in unprepared to the final, but if this match just can't be played (or won't be risked) that's the way it is and it will probably be the correct decision

eoghan6688 (Galway) - Posts: 129 - 04/11/2020 09:54:46    2305019

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Replying To arock:  "I agree, big mistake going ahead with this championship, there is a lot better things to be watching and doing than looking at facile games on TV."
Have to disagree with you big time there arock. I sat down to watch the last two Dublin Hurling championship games. Thoroughly enjoyed both. And the Kilkenny game i literally went through every emotion during that match.

And there's nothing facile about it for the players either. Just look at the reaction of the Donegal players at the final whistle v Tyrone. Look at what that victory meant to Cavan!!!!

Covid isn't the only epidemic at the moment. There's a mental health epidemic. A lot of people stressed/depressed, unemployed and fed up. You turn on the tv or the radio everyday and its all COVID, COVID, COVID and nothing else, with no sign of it ending anytime even remotely soon. Its the cause of great anxiety for many people. Our games are a welcome distraction for players and fans alike.

Some people just want everything that is in anyway fun and enjoyable to STOP.. without considering the implications on peoples mental health. Covid is the only game in town it seems.

Personally, the return of sport on our tv's has been great for me mentally, in particular the GAA games (and more particularly the Dubs games).

Everyone needs something to look forward to. We cant look forward to going on a holiday, we cant look forward to going for a pint on the weekend. We cant look forward to going to the cinema. We cant look forward to going out for a bite to eat. Its all been taken away from us. At least let us have our games to look forward to on the weekend.

I for one am buzzing for the Dubs double header on Saturday, especially the Dub V Cork match. Its getting me through another week of this ****!!!

ConnollyDub (Dublin) - Posts: 1922 - 04/11/2020 10:16:36    2305023

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Disgraceful tweet from Tomas O'Se re Sligo withdrawal and then questioning other weaker counties such as my own and my neighbours in Longford. I bet if it was his own county or Dublin withdrawing he'd be blubbing about what a shame it was and not calling into question any motives behind this. Scandalous

republicofcloone (Leitrim) - Posts: 120 - 04/11/2020 10:19:19    2305025

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I think the Sligo panel have every right to pull out if they feel that's the safest thing to do. If they now feel there's a signifcant risk to health and well-being of their players, families and other contacts then it's a very understandable decision.

I'm happy to see the championships go ahead because I love the games and it would be a pity if they had to be cancelled/unfinished for the first time since 1888. But ultimately, our players are all amateurs and they owe us nothing, and if they decide that pulling out is the safest course of action then I accept and respect that.

It's very disappointing though to see some in the media such as Tomas O'Se (who I have huge respect for as a player) criticising Sligo for this decision and of course taking the opportunity to extend his criticism towards other 'weaker counties' who also conceded recently.

O'Se is a supporter of a tiered championship, so you'd wonder if his pointed criticism is really just further campaigning to achieve that end.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8583 - 04/11/2020 10:29:21    2305032

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Replying To unclegerry:  "This game could be accommodated as there are spare weeks between Connacht final and AI semi as well as AI semi and final. I assume those weeks are being kept for when a game involving a big county is impacted. That question should be put to the GAA HQ but it wont now if Sligo have forfeited"
Gaa hierarchy knew this one was coming, hence the statement a few days ago, Sligo weren't going to be given a postponement.
Wait for the double standards though & U turn if it's a Munster final or one of the big guns who bring in high viewing rates are involved.
Validity of this C'ship now in question, winners if there is any will have an asterix beside it.
Disgraceful commentary by one of the yerra greed merchants questioning the Sligo set up's integrity & that of other smaller counties. Must be afraid it will affect the balance sheet.
Maybe Sligo & some of the smaller counties are the honest ones. Lots of known question marks in other counties, counties which have massive outbreaks, yet they don't seem to be affected. Having watched someone nearly pass away from Covid-19 & who has months of rehabilitation in front of them, all because they were in contact with a case from a recent County final, which has devastated a number of local communities, the GAA have a lot to answer for.
The GAA are going to drive this on regardless as they want the TV Rights money in & want to justify the €46 Million they were given by the Govt, if people are put at risk or infect others or some people pass away, that is the price they & their mouthpieces in the media are happy to pay.
As usual in modern GAA anyone who dares question or has an opposing view will be shouted down by the sheeple, JH in W'M suffered that. We see today certain counties integrity being called into question, no mention of how the Sligo players & their families that are affected are doing, no just bottom Dollar all the time.

moc.dna (Galway) - Posts: 1049 - 04/11/2020 10:33:24    2305034

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I was very surprised to read Tomas O'Se questioning the reason this is happening in weaker counties if it was genuine remarks from him. Covid cases don't discriminate against a team be it a top county or not. I respect all the decisions have been made with the best intentions; I still find it bizarre what Waterford footballers did in travelling to Dundalk but 20 mins up the road was out of bounds but that is another argument.

I know there has been many remarks made about finance in the GAA and I do think it has an impact. The top, weathly counties are able to carry much bigger squads, use different travel/hotel options and whilst there is no evidence I question if the top counties players are more protected by their employers than weaker counties would experience.

Do the top counties have more finance to carry out more regular testing so clusters can be identified early; I know Tyrone had one case that didn't affect the squad; are the weaker counties only able to afford mass testing in the week of a big game - by which case it's too late to identify/shield one or two cases away from the squad?

I think some in the GAA are out of touch; counties have been left to work this out for themselves; some of which wouldn't have the finance to compete at the best of times never mind dealing with this pandemic and all the extra costs it would involve.

The GAA know the stronger counties will cope and be able to compete; it isn't a case if a stronger county had to forfeit the game they'd step in; the reality is it won't happen; regular testing; better travel arrangements, more gear, better facilities to train socially distanced and much bigger squads all conditioned to play inter county puts them in a position to compete. Yes there might be a few cases but the wealthly counties will always be able to fulfil the fixture in a competitive way.

The GAA know this and it's why they will only to assist at the All Ireland stage as it's unlikely one of these semi professional counties will ever have to forfeit a game so they're safe.

sam1884 (UK) - Posts: 707 - 04/11/2020 10:38:41    2305035

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So Tomas o se would be willing to sacrifice the health of players and families to play a game of meaningless football!?!? Nice to know. Easy to know he's getting well looked after in his cosy RTÉ environment

foneyforme (Leitrim) - Posts: 143 - 04/11/2020 10:52:45    2305039

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I hope the Sligo players that tested positive and their families are ok and get rid of the virus soon, on the game itself I'm sure there are enough Gaelic football players in Sligo to put out a team and fulfil the fixture.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 1076 - 04/11/2020 10:54:18    2305040

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Brogan suggested a few weeks that Inter County Squads isolate in hotels during championship . That would have been possible if it was professional, and who was suppose to fund that.

Shows imbalances of Provincial Championship with Galway 3 games from Winning Sam. It wil take Cavan 3 games to reach Ulster final. Granted London and NY couldn't play but Provincial structures need re jigging. Put Longford in Connacht

FoolsGold (Cavan) - Posts: 2216 - 04/11/2020 10:57:16    2305041

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Replying To foneyforme:  "So Tomas o se would be willing to sacrifice the health of players and families to play a game of meaningless football!?!? Nice to know. Easy to know he's getting well looked after in his cosy RTÉ environment"
He wasn't asking the infected players to play. Just saying counties still could fulfil fixture if they really wanted too. Fermanagh and Roscommon already have missing large portions of their squads for league games

sourmilk93 (Roscommon) - Posts: 565 - 04/11/2020 11:02:43    2305044

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Replying To sam1884:  "I was very surprised to read Tomas O'Se questioning the reason this is happening in weaker counties if it was genuine remarks from him. Covid cases don't discriminate against a team be it a top county or not. I respect all the decisions have been made with the best intentions; I still find it bizarre what Waterford footballers did in travelling to Dundalk but 20 mins up the road was out of bounds but that is another argument.

I know there has been many remarks made about finance in the GAA and I do think it has an impact. The top, weathly counties are able to carry much bigger squads, use different travel/hotel options and whilst there is no evidence I question if the top counties players are more protected by their employers than weaker counties would experience.

Do the top counties have more finance to carry out more regular testing so clusters can be identified early; I know Tyrone had one case that didn't affect the squad; are the weaker counties only able to afford mass testing in the week of a big game - by which case it's too late to identify/shield one or two cases away from the squad?

I think some in the GAA are out of touch; counties have been left to work this out for themselves; some of which wouldn't have the finance to compete at the best of times never mind dealing with this pandemic and all the extra costs it would involve.

The GAA know the stronger counties will cope and be able to compete; it isn't a case if a stronger county had to forfeit the game they'd step in; the reality is it won't happen; regular testing; better travel arrangements, more gear, better facilities to train socially distanced and much bigger squads all conditioned to play inter county puts them in a position to compete. Yes there might be a few cases but the wealthly counties will always be able to fulfil the fixture in a competitive way.

The GAA know this and it's why they will only to assist at the All Ireland stage as it's unlikely one of these semi professional counties will ever have to forfeit a game so they're safe."
I don't know Sam, would kerry or Galway be recognised as top teams? Coz both our U20 teams lost a lot of players to Covid a few weeks back and neither were given an opportunity to postpone.

Look it's a horrible situation for Sligo to be in and that's no doubt but it could be us next or Mayo or Donegal so we all just got to hope for the best.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 11732 - 04/11/2020 11:07:58    2305048

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Of course the pure hypocrisy of O'Se's tweet is that if Sligo were beaten out the gate against Galway he'd be questioning why do we bother with this system of championship at all. You can't have it both ways.

republicofcloone (Leitrim) - Posts: 120 - 04/11/2020 11:15:38    2305051

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