Breezy (Limerick) - Posts: 1236 - 03/11/2020 21:08:55    2304952

Match off I understand

David (Meath) - Posts: 567 - 03/11/2020 22:26:25    2304968

The championship would be cancelled if this happened to Dublin.

Daith (Kildare) - Posts: 1171 - 03/11/2020 23:32:58    2304989

Yep Match conceded by Sligo
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KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3511 - 03/11/2020 23:51:37    2304994

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: 3759 - 04/11/2020 00:47:58    2305003

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: 522 - 04/11/2020 09:00:09    2305008

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: 1222 - 04/11/2020 09:16:33    2305011

Stmunnsriver (Wexford) - Posts: 2845 - 04/11/2020 09:16:48    2305012

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: 154 - 04/11/2020 09:54:46    2305019

ConnollyDub (Dublin) - Posts: 2007 - 04/11/2020 10:16:36    2305023

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: 375 - 04/11/2020 10:19:19    2305025

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: 8657 - 04/11/2020 10:29:21    2305032

moc.dna (Galway) - Posts: 1212 - 04/11/2020 10:33:24    2305034

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: 999 - 04/11/2020 10:38:41    2305035

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

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: 2756 - 04/11/2020 10:54:18    2305040

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: 2763 - 04/11/2020 10:57:16    2305041

sourmilk93 (Roscommon) - Posts: 1145 - 04/11/2020 11:02:43    2305044

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 04/11/2020 11:07:58    2305048

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: 375 - 04/11/2020 11:15:38    2305051