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Protective Covers For GAA Pitches

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Following the raft of postponements at the weekend that saw some GAA pitches 'fit for nothing only making snowmen'. Is it time for county boards to invest in protective covers for their county grounds during the early season to ensure big games are not under threat from frost or snow etc? I know it's not as simple as throwing a big rug across a field. There would need to be a drainage system etc. It would reduce the number of postponements. PortInFaithful (Offaly) - Posts: 472 - 12/02/2018 11:42:21 2076162 Link
If they stopped playing matches in February would be the big thing. Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4210 - 12/02/2018 11:55:48 2076171 Link
Replying To Whammo86: "If they stopped playing matches in February would be the big thing." That's another issue. PortInFaithful (Offaly) - Posts: 472 - 12/02/2018 12:13:48 2076180 Link
Replying To PortInFaithful: "Following the raft of postponements at the weekend that saw some GAA pitches 'fit for nothing only making snowmen'. Is it time for county boards to invest in protective covers for their county grounds during the early season to ensure big games are not under threat from frost or snow etc? I know it's not as simple as throwing a big rug across a field. There would need to be a drainage system etc. It would reduce the number of postponements." Yes absolutely it should be a requirement royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 12/02/2018 12:35:21 2076192 Link
Not that simple. A cover would require some sort of drainage system to take the water away. Plus with snow and ice it may be a cause ground access makes it unsafe for patrons at least in the eyes of the insurance companies. yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11227 - 12/02/2018 12:48:09 2076199 Link
Replying To PortInFaithful: "Following the raft of postponements at the weekend that saw some GAA pitches 'fit for nothing only making snowmen'. Is it time for county boards to invest in protective covers for their county grounds during the early season to ensure big games are not under threat from frost or snow etc? I know it's not as simple as throwing a big rug across a field. There would need to be a drainage system etc. It would reduce the number of postponements." it wouldn't bother the Westmeath lads link Maroonatic (Galway) - Posts: 1060 - 12/02/2018 12:54:46 2076205 Link
Replying To yew_tree: "Not that simple. A cover would require some sort of drainage system to take the water away. Plus with snow and ice it may be a cause ground access makes it unsafe for patrons at least in the eyes of the insurance companies." It would be a big risk but safety measures could be introduced. County boards cant invest in tonnes of sand and salt while they're at it. Line every bit of concrete around the grounds in sand and salt on match day. PortInFaithful (Offaly) - Posts: 472 - 12/02/2018 13:47:20 2076226 Link
Great idea and good point but one issue as always.....money!! Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3734 - 12/02/2018 14:37:41 2076251 Link
You don't always have to get a real deal pitch cover. The county boards could go to the clubs and ask each one to buy a bouncing castle. That kind of material would do perfectly. Have the bouncing castles out the pitch deflated obviously! gaelicgab (USA) - Posts: 878 - 12/02/2018 15:28:33 2076278 Link
Replying To gaelicgab: "You don't always have to get a real deal pitch cover. The county boards could go to the clubs and ask each one to buy a bouncing castle. That kind of material would do perfectly. Have the bouncing castles out the pitch deflated obviously!" Good initiative. PortInFaithful (Offaly) - Posts: 472 - 12/02/2018 16:28:39 2076313 Link
Need to cover the whole area of the stands, roads around the place, etc too though.......seen this happen at a football match in England a few years ago - the ground was fine, salted etc but the footpaths around weren't so the match was cancelled as was our flight home to add insult to injury! Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 12/02/2018 16:53:12 2076327 Link
Replying To PortInFaithful: "It would be a big risk but safety measures could be introduced. County boards cant invest in tonnes of sand and salt while they're at it. Line every bit of concrete around the grounds in sand and salt on match day." Salt and concrete do not mix well- the next thing you would have the stands falling down! browncows (Meath) - Posts: 2342 - 12/02/2018 17:59:27 2076346 Link
Great idea. They could be knitted in the county colors by the local ICA committee:-) Mayonman (Galway) - Posts: 1826 - 13/02/2018 13:41:43 2076524 Link