Championship and Covid

Chalk McHugh

gp1990 wrote: »

Ok but going by what he's saying what makes him think we'll be ready for a 2021 championship?

He mentions the virus being gone by then or a vaccine being available. Neither of which will happen. There is absolutely zero guarantee a vaccine will be produced in the next 2 years, if ever

Even if one does come to market how long until Ireland actually get their hands on it how long before it can be distributed nationwide. How long will it give immunity for? Will it even fully work? I think there's a bit of naivety from some in the sporting world around a vaccine suddenly becoming available in the next year and everything magically going back to normal

I appreciate his sentiment but with all due respect no-one has an absolute clue as to what will happen in the coming months. I think GAA returning is far more dependent on treatments coming to market/regular same-day testing/much more information becoming available on immunity & how many of the population have been affected to date than a vaccine tbh

I agree with your last paragraph but i like to think that all those things you mentioned will be much clearer and in a better place by the first quarter of 2021. Cant see a vaccine for a long time so we'll just have to learn to live with it as best we can.

gp1990

Chalk McHugh wrote: »

I agree with your last paragraph but i like to think that all those things you mentioned will be much clearer and in a better place by the first quarter of 2021. Cant see a vaccine for a long time so we'll just have to learn to live with it as best we can.

Yeah absolutely

While waiting for the virus to actually disappear before action returns is an admirable sentiment, it is just not realistic at all

As you say we'll need to learn to live with it.

A few weeks will make an awful difference. Him citing figures on new cases is not particularly helpful, many of these could be results from tests done weeks ago, most sources i hear aren't even reporting new cases anymore (just deaths) as they're just not nearly indicative enough of the present state of play

Stacksofwacks

Who says there will be a vaccine? This thing will be with us for years I feel, if we quash the current trend and open up things again then there could be an outbreak in another country in a few months and it will be only a matter of time before its back in the country again. I think we should just run knock out championships for the next few years, no leagues or challenge games. It will be tough but if we can just have the minimal amount of games and focus on getting those played in safe conditions then I think its better than having no games at all.

People absolutely love telling us that there may not be a vaccine for X years, IF EVER, like we don’t already know. But it’s the only hope we have and the world is looking for one so maybe hold out a little optimism.

gp1990

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

People absolutely love telling us that there may not be a vaccine for X years, IF EVER, like we don’t already know. But it’s the only hope we have and the world is looking for one so maybe hold out a little optimism.

Only hope we have?

In terms of 'optimism' from what I've read I'd be far more hopeful of several treatments coming to market - and much quicker than a widely distributed functioning vaccine at that

kaizersoze

BonnieSituation

scrubs33 wrote: »

I would love the GAA to really seize the chance to restructure things. I've said here before that an open draw championship in both codes would be savage. First round losers get one more chance but that's it. Unfortunately however we won't get that as the vested interests have too much to loose from not waffling on about the magic of the Munster hurling final in Thurles (a nightmare to get out of) or the streets of Clones on Ulster final day (see previous point) That said what I wouldnt give to be able to travel to either of those events this year...

I love how you want them to seize the chance and restructure things... And still give losers a back door.

Chalk McHugh

kaizersoze wrote: »

Makes sense. Bye bye 2020.

gp1990

Would be interesting to see the GAAs official line on this if true. Why have they deviated from the government's 'roadmap' and why so soon? It's hardly as if county players are even training anyway or need to be paid, what exactly are they gaining by making such calls right now during the peak of the pandemic when there's so little information out there on the virus?

What if by August there are treatments in circulation, if we discover that outdoor sports basically produce 0% transmission, if the virus has been in Ireland a lot longer than thought and that many of the population have immunity or whatever?

Would be a bit odd to have schools open, offices back to normal, all other sports in full swing but the GAA holding out for some vaccine that might never come or this thing to disappear completely - which means we may see championship again in 2025 if we're lucky

I completely agree that at present gaa should not be played but even August is ages away yet.

mountgomery burns

The GAA haven't decided anything, don't mind Galway bay FM spreading rumours yet again.

gp1990

mountgomery burns wrote: »

The GAA haven't decided anything, don't mind Galway bay FM spreading rumours yet again.

Haha, only a few weeks ago they were fully sure club would be back in June

kaizersoze

https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2020/0506/1136722-gaa-management-committee-meeting/

shockframe

gp1990 wrote: »

Only hope we have?

In terms of 'optimism' from what I've read I'd be far more hopeful of several treatments coming to market - and much quicker than a widely distributed functioning vaccine at that

Almost every resource in big Pharma right now is going into the Pandemic. You would be hopeful that this will lead to something sooner rather than later.

shmeee

gp1990 wrote: »

Haha, only a few weeks ago they were fully sure club would be back in June

What else would you expect from a crowd of Matties!

scrubs33

https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2020/0506/1136808-gaa-remain-committed-to-playing-championships-this-year/
Source indicating to RTE that Championship to take place in September/October(I hope the link works)

kaizersoze

mountgomery burns wrote: »

The GAA haven't decided anything, don't mind Galway bay FM spreading rumours yet again.

Not too far off the mark.....;)

scrubs33

scrubs33 wrote: »

https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2020/0506/1136808-gaa-remain-committed-to-playing-championships-this-year/
Source indicating to RTE that Championship to take place in September/October(I hope the link works)

No inter county football until October. As for club football, training might begin after July 20th.

mountgomery burns

kaizersoze wrote: »

Not too far off the mark.....;)

No fair play to them, this time they were on the mark.

The GAA are letting the players down big time in my opinion here. No championship before October, and at that there would have to be considerable doubt about it taking place. only way it will happen is with no crowds, and apparent they didn't even discuss that.

Time they showed some leadership and considered players slaving away here with a carrot being dangled progressively further away from them, and inter county managers with proverbial hot pokers behind them coaxing them to stay committed. Totally unfair, if we cannot see it being played at this stage it's time to calll a spade a spade and postpone/cancel.

blowitupref

If the GAA Championship is played later this year its clear those at the top sound determined to have supporters at matches. Question I'd ask if there is a need to social distance in the stand/terrace then how is it safe for players to play a contact sport?

https://mobile.twitter.com/VirginMediaNews/status/1258087132083732480

castletownman

You'd swear GAA was the only sport that was played in front of audience the way they apparently completely dismissed the prospect of playing behind closed doors.

How come professional sports leagues (Bundesliga looking to start in a couple of weeks time) with more money on the table and revenue on offer can accept the sacrifice of playing behind closed doors, while we can't even allow our club players back to train collectively until the end of July?

Nanny state at its finest.

The Lost Sheep

castletownman wrote: »

You'd swear GAA was the only sport that was played in front of audience the way they apparently completely dismissed the prospect of playing behind closed doors.

How come professional sports leagues (Bundesliga looking to start in a couple of weeks time) with more money on the table and revenue on offer can accept the sacrifice of playing behind closed doors, while we can't even allow our club players back to train collectively until the end of July?

Nanny state at its finest.

for plenty of pro sports the loss of gate revenue isnt as big a deal as its TV income that is what really matters. Not the same in gaa.

blowitupref

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

for plenty of pro sports the loss of gate revenue isnt as big a deal as its TV income that is what really matters. Not the same in gaa.

True, also the majority of GAA players are working rather than fulltime athletes who can cocoon more.

Fr Tod Umptious

castletownman wrote: »

You'd swear GAA was the only sport that was played in front of audience the way they apparently completely dismissed the prospect of playing behind closed doors.

How come professional sports leagues (Bundesliga looking to start in a couple of weeks time) with more money on the table and revenue on offer can accept the sacrifice of playing behind closed doors, while we can't even allow our club players back to train collectively until the end of July?

Nanny state at its finest.

For the simple reason that there is more money on the table.

Professional sports need to get back playing in some shape or form for in order to pay players and other costs, GAA have no such obligation.

GAA players are also under no obligation to play, whereas professional sports people are based on their contracts.

You just cannot compare the GAA to something like the Bundesliga.

xredmanlfcx

gp1990 wrote: »

Would be interesting to see the GAAs official line on this if true. Why have they deviated from the government's 'roadmap' and why so soon? It's hardly as if county players are even training anyway or need to be paid, what exactly are they gaining by making such calls right now during the peak of the pandemic when there's so little information out there on the virus?

What if by August there are treatments in circulation, if we discover that outdoor sports basically produce 0% transmission, if the virus has been in Ireland a lot longer than thought and that many of the population have immunity or whatever?

Would be a bit odd to have schools open, offices back to normal, all other sports in full swing but the GAA holding out for some vaccine that might never come or this thing to disappear completely - which means we may see championship again in 2025 if we're lucky

I completely agree that at present gaa should not be played but even August is ages away yet.

Agree with all of this. There is a big gap between the government road map and the GAA dates (October). Nobody knows for sure yet who will be more accurate.

TCDStudent1

xredmanlfcx wrote: »

Agree with all of this. There is a big gap between the government road map and the GAA dates (October). Nobody knows for sure yet who will be more accurate.

The problem is that you cant just ask teams to suddenly start playing. A lot of preparation goes into these teams in the lead up to games. Also, as alluded to in earlier posts, these are guys with full time jobs who need to plan things out. I would think the October date is to allow a lead in time for the games and have teams training. Th actual date of teams going back training would align far more closely to the government date. The GAA has arguably more obstacles here than most sports because of their amateur status.

xredmanlfcx

[Deleted User] wrote: »

No inter county football until October. As for club football, training might begin after July 20th.

What about inter county hurling and club hurling? ;-P

Vinnie222

xredmanlfcx wrote: »

What about inter county hurling and club hurling? ;-P

Includes no hurling also

Chalk McHugh

I've written this year off completely as far as GAA is concerned. My hopes disintegrated about a month ago. It was time to mentally prepare for the worst. I'd take GAA action in 2021 at this stage. All this clinging on for hope of a few games in Oct - Dec is only tormenting oneself. It's game over lads. 2020 is over. Forget about it.

xredmanlfcx

TCDStudent1 wrote: »

The problem is that you cant just ask teams to suddenly start playing. A lot of preparation goes into these teams in the lead up to games. Also, as alluded to in earlier posts, these are guys with full time jobs who need to plan things out. I would think the October date is to allow a lead in time for the games and have teams training. Th actual date of teams going back training would align far more closely to the government date. The GAA has arguably more obstacles here than most sports because of their amateur status.

I agree, there is a lot of build up to playing sports matches. In the GAAs case, with the amount of volunteering needed, this will prove difficult imo. But the government roadmap has matches behind closed doors to begin at the end of June. End of June to October is over 3 months, I don't think the GAA need that long for pre season training - they might want it, but if they do they should postpone/cancel the 2020 season really.

Figsy32

xredmanlfcx wrote: »

I agree, there is a lot of build up to playing sports matches. In the GAAs case, with the amount of volunteering needed, this will prove difficult imo. But the government roadmap has matches behind closed doors to begin at the end of June. End of June to October is over 3 months, I don't think the GAA need that long for pre season training - they might want it, but if they do they should postpone/cancel the 2020 season really.

They’ve said they hope to run off club games first. So if you say clubs go back training in June, run off club championship July to September then I would think October is the best case scenario.

I can’t see anything going ahead this year. It would seem crazy to hold club games across the country when people are still meant to be social distancing.

rrs

The French and Dutch Leagues are cancelled till September at the earliest.. And that's professional, so GAA club football is highly unlikely to happen. County in October was more a hope then realistic view. A GP said last night to Matt Cooper no GAA for a long time.
No guarantee schools will reopen in September

gp1990

TCDStudent1 wrote: »

The problem is that you cant just ask teams to suddenly start playing. A lot of preparation goes into these teams in the lead up to games. Also, as alluded to in earlier posts, these are guys with full time jobs who need to plan things out. I would think the October date is to allow a lead in time for the games and have teams training. Th actual date of teams going back training would align far more closely to the government date. The GAA has arguably more obstacles here than most sports because of their amateur status.

I think its clear we won't be seeing any GAA this year. October is not in line with the government roadmap (and they've also gone against the roadmap in terms of allowing teams back doing even small training) so no idea where they're plucking October out of - its certainly not based on medical advice and/or analytical forecasts - so the answer is most likely thin air.

Many of the noises coming from GAA stakeholders being interviewed (yes I understand some can't say anything different for PR purposes) is about a "vaccine" and the "virus dying out" and so on, before a return.

As I've said the sentiment is admirable but as we've seen with countries re-opening and roadmaps being produced life in general does have to go on in the meantime, or else we may have to stay in our houses for at least a few years. An amateur sport like GAA is interesting though

Many in the GAA do seem very insistent that social distancing = no GAA. However in the next few months we are likely to see some treatments coming to market, a large reduction in cases nationwide, far more reliable data on outdoor transmission, and more information on how many have been infected to date (Leo has come out today and also reinforced what many of us have been thinking all along by speculating himself that this thing has been in Ireland since January at the latest) and on immunity rates and levels. Will any of this be enough for the GAA to give go ahead or is it no vaccine no play regardless?

If a championship doesn't go ahead in October when we will know so much more about this virus, I don't see one going ahead in 2021

Loafing Oaf

[QUOTE=Chalk McHugh;113367398 All this clinging on for hope of a few games in Oct - Dec is only tormenting oneself. I[/QUOTE]

What sort of 'championship' could you play in that timeframe anyway?

TCDStudent1

It doesnt necessarily have to be a championship in October. Finish the league instead to give some much needed matches to everybody. A league final under lights in November could be brilliant. Then back in January for a fresh start for everything in 2021!

Chalk McHugh

Loafing Oaf wrote: »

What sort of 'championship' could you play in that timeframe anyway?

League? Championship? Club? Challenge matches? You name it i've given up on it. 2020 is done and dusted. It's my own way of mentally trying to deal with it. It's the hope that was killing me.

xredmanlfcx

TCDStudent1 wrote: »

It doesnt necessarily have to be a championship in October. Finish the league instead to give some much needed matches to everybody. A league final under lights in November could be brilliant. Then back in January for a fresh start for everything in 2021!

That was my initial thought too, but not every team is still in the league. It'd be a bit to unfair to let some counties play before the end of 2020, and make others wait until next year.

dobman88

Chalk McHugh wrote: »

League? Championship? Club? Challenge matches? You name it i've given up on it. 2020 is done and dusted. It's my own way of mentally trying to deal with it. It's the hope that was killing me.

Nice to see you come round to some rational thought Chalky. I was surprised you clung onto the hope for so long tbh. As you said, it's the hope that kills ya.

TCDStudent1

xredmanlfcx wrote: »

That was my initial thought too, but not every team is still in the league. It'd be a bit to unfair to let some counties play before the end of 2020, and make others wait until next year.

Almost every team has something to play for in the league???

Chalk McHugh

dobman88 wrote: »

Nice to see you come round to some rational thought Chalky. I was surprised you clung onto the hope for so long tbh. As you said, it's the hope that kills ya.

BloodyBill

The GAA are going to regret their decision. Association football will be back all over the world (behind closed doors). The Germans lead the way. Rugby expect to be back playing...and that's club rugby. The GAA think they are some sort of 'game of the peope' yet are ducking out of playing. I dont care if they are amature. Get a good testing process going and play on.Its ludicrous and cowardly to think theyve ruled out sport in June,July ,Aug and Sept. This Covid will be around for years.. are they going to write off 2021. I'm a medical professional. If your not fat or have multiple co morbidities ,the chances of you dying are very very slim.

CrabRevolution

xredmanlfcx wrote: »

That was my initial thought too, but not every team is still in the league. It'd be a bit to unfair to let some counties play before the end of 2020, and make others wait until next year.

I think every county has 2 rounds of the NFL left. If there's some opportunity to play those off before the end of the year that's what I'd go for.

CrabRevolution

BloodyBill wrote: »

The GAA are going to regret their decision. Association football will be back all over the world (behind closed doors). The Germans lead the way. Rugby expect to be back playing...and that's club rugby. The GAA think they are some sort of 'game of the peope' yet are ducking out of playing. I dont care if they are amature. Get a good testing process going and play on.Its ludicrous and cowardly to think theyve ruled out sport in June,July ,Aug and Sept. This Covid will be around for years.. are they going to write off 2021. I'm a medical professional. If your not fat or have multiple co morbidities ,the chances of you dying are very very slim.

You can't compare the GAA to the Premier League or Bundesliga. The GAA is far more comparable to lower league soccer in the UK, which was immediately shuttered and there's little talk of it restarting before Autumn.

As for the bolded, someone had better tell the entire medical profession they've been made redundant as you obviously know better than them....

dobman88

BloodyBill wrote: »

The GAA are going to regret their decision. Association football will be back all over the world (behind closed doors). The Germans lead the way. Rugby expect to be back playing...and that's club rugby. The GAA think they are some sort of 'game of the peope' yet are ducking out of playing. I dont care if they are amature. Get a good testing process going and play on.Its ludicrous and cowardly to think theyve ruled out sport in June,July ,Aug and Sept. This Covid will be around for years.. are they going to write off 2021. I'm a medical professional. If your not fat or have multiple co morbidities ,the chances of you dying are very very slim.

:pac:

gp1990

BloodyBill wrote: »

This Covid will be around for years.. are they going to write off 2021.

From reading between the lines yes I would guess so

They've gone against the government roadmap which has a return of GAA action as soon as phase 4 - not even the last phase, so I can only assume they're not looking to return before a vaccine or they're waiting for this thing to disappear

Dublin's drive for 6 might need to wait till well into the 2020s!!

Fr Tod Umptious

BloodyBill wrote: »

The GAA are going to regret their decision. Association football will be back all over the world (behind closed doors). The Germans lead the way. Rugby expect to be back playing...and that's club rugby. The GAA think they are some sort of 'game of the peope' yet are ducking out of playing. I dont care if they are amature. Get a good testing process going and play on.Its ludicrous and cowardly to think theyve ruled out sport in June,July ,Aug and Sept. This Covid will be around for years.. are they going to write off 2021. I'm a medical professional. If your not fat or have multiple co morbidities ,the chances of you dying are very very slim.

What a stupid post.

Doesn't matter how got or healthy a player is, having them playing GAA gives them plenty of opportunity to transmit the infection to their families or work place.

All this talk of Assocation Football coming back is just that, talk.

Assocation Football, in England, anyway is fcuked, it has been a bubble for 30 years and now it's burst, soccer teams cannot afford to keep paying huge salaries while playing behind closed doors and covering the cost of testing etc, and Sky etc are not going to pay huge money for rights for games behind closed doors that will bore the hole off you.

The GAA will be fine, it will come out of this stronger, but it's time to write off any meaningful competition in 2020

Chalk McHugh

If BloodyBill is a medical professional i'm a Chinese rapper from the Wuhan Clan

CrabRevolution

gp1990 wrote: »

From reading between the lines yes I would guess so

They've gone against the government roadmap which has a return of GAA action as soon as phase 4 - not even the last phase, so I can only assume they're not looking to return before a vaccine or they're waiting for this thing to disappear

Dublin's drive for 6 might need to wait till well into the 2020s!!

They haven't gone against anything. The Government roadmap is a set of earliest possible dates, not a set of rules for what must occur on a given date.

It's like saying you're going against the government rules by not drinking every day after your 18th birthday, since that's when you're allowed do it.

Stacksofwacks

I'm a doctor too, not a real one I just read stuff on the internet.

Sultan of Bling

If no championship is played this year dublin will be all Ireland champions 6 years in a row.

What a team. Dont even play and still create history.

Chalk McHugh

Sultan of Bling wrote: »

If no championship is played this year dublin will be all Ireland champions 6 years in a row.

What a team. Dont even play and still create history.

All the other pretenders to the crown can celebrate a championship summer not being beaten by the mighty Dubs. Best thing to happen us as we could have done with a nice break to fully recharge the batteries and be fresh as daisies to do the 8 in a row.