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County players are not elite players? Nonsense.
Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6031 - 25/02/2021 10:30:11 2332713 Link 1 |
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Exactly. People need to take a step back for a minute. It may not be in the GAA's gift to allow club to go first in 2021, even if the majority of the association would prefer that. The Covid situation and what is allowed by Government will dictate what is possible, not the GAA. The way I see it panning out is that IF we get to Level 3 then county squads can train and compete, and the GAA will schedule the 2021 county competitions accordingly. Then, as more & more people are vaccinated and cases numbers decrease to a safe enough level, club can be looked at and planned. Looking ahead optimistically, we could play county off in May-June-July. (Perhaps get club leagues going in July). Then have club Championship starting August? This isn't me expressing a preference one way or the other. It's just an overview of the reality as I see it at present. But by all means, in 2022 when hopefully to Jesus Covid will be in our rear view mirrors, lets look at alternative options and what the preferences are. I think it's safe to say that the split season will definitely be the way forward. It'll just be a matter of seeing what works best. Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9155 - 25/02/2021 11:16:42 2332716 Link 0 |
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They are not elite players and never should have come under that umbrella.... The Government made a big boo boo in that regard and corrected it this time around... If you don't know elite athletes or players mean professional players who will not be returning to work places and mixing with others outside their bubble... I know a lot of county players might think and act like they are professionals but they are not and should be treated no different than ordinary club players... simple as
ForeverBlue2 (Cavan) - Posts: 1950 - 25/02/2021 11:46:08 2332717 Link 1 |
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No chance of clubs going first this year. carlovia (None) - Posts: 1517 - 25/02/2021 12:02:44 2332720 Link 1 |
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I've seen the government do stranger things in the past few months .
Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 1914 - 25/02/2021 12:35:43 2332724 Link 0 |
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Your heads up your hole, of course they are elite, they are as close to professionalism as you'll get in this country anyway. Government didn't make a boo boo last time round, it was one of the only things they got right and GAA passed with flying colours.
Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2017 - 25/02/2021 13:08:20 2332726 Link 4 |
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It's all about semantics. The use of the word "elite" caused unnecessary confusion and argument. Noone is denying that county GAA players are the elite of their sport and they train accordingly. But they're not professional and that is the key difference. If the phrase "professional & semi professional" had been used instead of elite, it would have saved a whole lot of breath and time.
Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9155 - 25/02/2021 13:26:35 2332728 Link 3 |
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Looks like county will be first. John Horan was emphatic last weekend at All Stars event. Government won't let panels back with the current strain and they will be watching what the numbers are going to be after the schools partially reopen. How the schools impact the numbers will be key. Looking at the numbers in ICU with over 120...that tells me we won't be back for a while. Medical workers are still under immense pressure both physically and mentally. carlowman (Carlow) - Posts: 1821 - 25/02/2021 14:06:14 2332732 Link 1 |
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Very true Lockjaw but there are unpaid teams that have been given the go ahead to play such as the women's international rugby team. The women's National League in soccer has been given the go ahead. Are all of the teams in Division One in The LOI full time or part time? Are UCD's players paid?
Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6031 - 25/02/2021 14:16:31 2332733 Link 0 |
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Think your the one with your head up your hole which doesn't surprise me in the least... GAA is NOT professional and therefore not elite... Looking at what happened in different venues after matches would suggest the GAA did not pass with flying colours...otherwise they might have kept their status... Elite my foot...!!!!
ForeverBlue2 (Cavan) - Posts: 1950 - 25/02/2021 15:12:22 2332735 Link 2 |
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Surely to god if the behaviour of fans is the barometer for eliteness or not then the gaa would be ahead of soccer,, ditto professionalism,, I'll bet half those loi players don't put on the same levels of commitment as intercounty gaa players.
Galway9801 (Galway) - Posts: 1722 - 25/02/2021 15:23:37 2332736 Link 2 |
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That might be the case but regardless of what commitment they give they are not regarded as elite.... like it or lump it..
ForeverBlue2 (Cavan) - Posts: 1950 - 25/02/2021 15:54:18 2332737 Link 2 |
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"Which doesn't surprise me in the least" 18 posts and you're speaking like a veteran of this forum. Your posts look very familiar too...
SaffronDon (Antrim) - Posts: 2386 - 25/02/2021 16:17:44 2332740 Link 0 |
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The reason that he GAA is not back has nothing to do with the word 'elite' nor anything to do with 'gaelic' players being deemed any less dedicated. It has to do with protecting players, mentors, referees etc. The GAA caters for a small number of players who play at intercounty level but the vast majority players in the GAA play for their club at various levels. With the current number of variants in the country, the fact that the virus is easier to pick up and transmit plus the fact that these variants are killing a larger number of people at a greater rate means that it is not safe to have games at these levels while ensuring that people are safe. The GAA could pay to put inter county players in a bubble and test them repeatedly just like clubs in the league of ireland and provincial and international teams are doing currently but the GAA are not willing to do this due to the cost I would imagine. The All Ireland league in rugby has been cancelled for 2021, this is the equivalent of the local championships in GAA. There are no local club soccer competitions being held at the moment so we are purely talking about league of Ireland and provincial rugby competitions going ahead. The GAA may at some stage have to chose to play the All Ireland competitions and cancel the local club championships but they are playing the waiting game in the hope that they will be able to play both later in the year but there is nothing to stop the GAA setting up the correct protocols and play the intercounty championship but the protocols from 2020 are no longer sufficient due to the change in the risk which is due to the new variants. wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 1916 - 25/02/2021 16:19:32 2332742 Link 1 |
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To be honest I'm not sure. Are the women's international rugby team not paid? Surprised at that. I think the Div 1 teams are at least semi-pro so maybe that's why they're allowed go ahead? Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9155 - 25/02/2021 16:29:20 2332743 Link 0 |
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Some players are paid or most are but many also work either part time hours or are full time in season but have to work jobs in the soccer off season.
KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3512 - 25/02/2021 16:39:44 2332744 Link 0 |
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Wexford FC players get expenses
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 12057 - 25/02/2021 16:48:26 2332745 Link 0 |
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Problem is the word elite. It should be fulltime professional. Full time professionals can bubble with their teammates and family. They dont have to go to work outside of their sport because it is their work. League of Ireland shouldn't be going ahead either. Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 12057 - 25/02/2021 16:52:32 2332746 Link 0 |
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Take a look around you at a lot of county setups. They would put so called professional sports to shame. Diets, training, looking after themselves, doing hospital visits to name a few. Maybe above elite and go semipro. They put their lives on hold for their love of it not the money. And yes , the GAA did pass with flying colours.
Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2017 - 25/02/2021 17:39:21 2332752 Link 2 |
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To say county gaa players are not elite just because supporters didn't abide by guidelines in relation to social distancing is a mistake as far as I am concerned. This has nothing to do with the word elite BTW. Part of me accepts that some counties might regard themselves as elite due to facilities, financial resources available and managerial appointments etc but unfortunately the same cannot be applied to all counties. Do we need the word elite to be proud of our own organisation, what it stands for. The fundamental goal of the GAA is to enable every boy and girl to be able to play our National games not create a concept of elitism. Anyway more to the point from a Covid perspective, it will be County going first. roseyinthegarden (Wicklow) - Posts: 109 - 25/02/2021 18:15:45 2332756 Link 0 |