Messages

This is the Cavan chairman's point. There is no rugby angle here. Unless you're talking about club rugby grounds.

I think the point as made earlier in the thread is that rugby and soccer fans are staying at home and watching streams, presumably because they know the club will lash them out of it if they physically present. So they don't. The GAA seem not to be able to get this message across.

You're not comparing like with like and you know it. Which is why you're ignoring the other point I made above. Closing a stadium is much easier than closing a playing field.

But none of us are hearing about soccer and rugby clubs just shrugging ther shoulders and letting people in.

This is the Cavan chairman's point. There is no rugby angle here. Unless you're talking about club rugby grounds.

I think the point as made earlier in the thread is that rugby and soccer fans are staying at home and watching streams, presumably because they know the club will lash them out of it if they physically present. So they don't. The GAA seem not to be able to get this message across.

Feckin shite, whats the point in signing strikers and not even playing 1 when our marquee striker isn't playing, champions league my hole!!

Klimala isn't up to speed or isn't good enough, Ajeti isnt fit enough and Griffiths is a numpty. Not much option but Christie up top was obviously not going to work. NL has overseen poor results in Europe in his second stint and that probably tops the lot. Ferencvaros were poor, defended well and scored with two chances. Moi should have had a penalty right enough just before they scored. Honestly it is perplexing how these "small" clubs outdo us consistently.

Are Ferencvaros a small club in this context? One European trophy and lost two finals. Biggest fish in a small pond

[you're free to choose your allegiance up until you play a senior competitive fixture,]

Once a player gets to say 20/21, they should have to decide one way or the other and that's it. It'd save a lot of messing

Different players develop at different paces and ages, putting a deadline on it would be wrong. There also isn't any "messing", as you're free to choose your allegiance up until you play a senior competitive fixture, as has happened in this case. There is no problem. The only uproar is from bitter NI fans.

That's my point, I think that rule should be changed; I understand that at younger ages a player is happy to get any call up but I think the limit should be set at 20/21. Doesn't matter what pace you develop at, you should be pretty clear on where your allegiances lie by the time you're 20/21

That would make the disgraceful agreement between the IFA and FAI even more abhorrent

What agreement?

There's an agreement in place between the associations that the FAI will not select players born in Northern Ireland for youth teams unless they also qualify by some other means eg that they are living in the Republic. It came about after the IFA took a player to court to stop him playing for his country. So by and large the choice for aspiring footballers in the North is play for Northern Ireland or don't play underage international football even though you are eligible to Play for what is (if you so decided) to and may feel is your country.

What? That's nuts, who told you that?

What player? What court?

[you're free to choose your allegiance up until you play a senior competitive fixture,]

Once a player gets to say 20/21, they should have to decide one way or the other and that's it. It'd save a lot of messing

Different players develop at different paces and ages, putting a deadline on it would be wrong. There also isn't any "messing", as you're free to choose your allegiance up until you play a senior competitive fixture, as has happened in this case. There is no problem. The only uproar is from bitter NI fans.

That's my point, I think that rule should be changed; I understand that at younger ages a player is happy to get any call up but I think the limit should be set at 20/21. Doesn't matter what pace you develop at, you should be pretty clear on where your allegiances lie by the time you're 20/21

That would make the disgraceful agreement between the IFA and FAI even more abhorrent

What agreement?

Give the fella a chance. He's young, still developing and could be one for the future. Beggars can't be choosers

He is 23 and just finished his first season as a pro in L2. I'm not knocking the lad. But he wasn't able to break the 6 county side after coming through the youth ranks. He is at least 10th in line for the RoI

Fair play to Mark Sykes. Well within his rights to do what he has done, no issue here. Looking forward to seeing him in an Ireland jersey once his transfer goes through.

There is zero chance of a call up. All this fella did was tell the IFA he would rather not play internationally at all than play for them.

Kenny approached Sykes to declare. That might have given him hope, he's paying League 1 so will have a bit to do.
There has been other Northern players in the past who switched, and were never capped by the Republicx like Daniel Kearns

Did he?

Seems odd considering he left midfielders like Cullen, Byrne, Knight, Sadlier, Judge, Taylor, Elbouzedi, Coventry and Kilkenny out, all of whom are ahead of him in the pack.

There is zero chance this fella gets a call up

Genuine question.

This weekend games all being played behind closed doors. Imbon my clubs executive and I will be at the games due to my role. If johnny thickass turns up cos he thinks the government are corrupt and enters the ground to watch the match, what exactly are me or the club executive committee supposed to do?

What would you do if he entered the frounds to steal from cars ot take sly pictures of kids? You reef him out of it or call the cops.

These questions are a bit silly

Yeah checked there Sligo had, Finn Harps
Dundalk, Cork City, Shamrock Rovers  St Pats hadn't

Bohemians and Shelburne are also not allowing fans to attend. Only Sligo and Finn Harps in the Premier Division are allowing small no of fans to attend.

LOI fans have a streaming service which is working well so fans can watch games online. Why should the GAA be different? GAA fans have no justification to demand they be allowed attend games. GAA need to accept the decision like all the other sporting organizations in this country have done

Something to do with 2200 volunteer led clubs versus a dozen semi pro businesses.

Thats patronising bullshit. Soccer clubs put in exactly the same effort and add to the countries social capital too.

It's the off season for junior soccer. I'd expect you know this.

I understand they are tidying up leagues.soccer is in full swing. But its a very irritating line that other sports volunteerism is less valid than ours. I can understand why that line causes offence.

Yeah checked there Sligo had, Finn Harps
Dundalk, Cork City, Shamrock Rovers  St Pats hadn't

Bohemians and Shelburne are also not allowing fans to attend. Only Sligo and Finn Harps in the Premier Division are allowing small no of fans to attend.

LOI fans have a streaming service which is working well so fans can watch games online. Why should the GAA be different? GAA fans have no justification to demand they be allowed attend games. GAA need to accept the decision like all the other sporting organizations in this country have done

Something to do with 2200 volunteer led clubs versus a dozen semi pro businesses.

Thats patronising bullshit. Soccer clubs put in exactly the same effort and add to the countries social capital too.

There have been no cases tracked from outdoor sports events. None.

Where did you hear this? They have stated that there is evidence to show people carpooling to games, and congregating before and after games, has resulted in cases

GAA officials have stated on field activities hasn't resulted in a case thus far. It was only 100 paying supporters in the 26 counties, 50 from each club. Plenty are carpool to the shops, restaurants, beach etc and congregating before and after.


It seems a few on here are going to be shocked and angry when the plug is pulled on the inter County season to fill the void the club provincial and All-Ireland series should be restored for the October to December.

I've been at games and was a lot more then '100', paying members. It didn't make sense that the 6 Counties went from no crowds to 400.  One step back 2 step forward.

The Airtricity league has been playing with without crowds. They could have used the 200 allowance, but would have more hassle then its was worth with who could have tickets.

Pretty sure loi teams were letting in 50 supporters, drawn between season ticket holders.

They weren't. They had the option but weren't availing of it. Each club is using a streaming service.

A couple did. Most reckoned it wasn't worth the hassle or cost to police.

Look at other sports on tv. Fans simply weren't sitting together in groups. 200 was rigorously enforced in the LoI for example, it clearly wasn't at some GAA games.

To repeat once more the issue was mainly with what goes on before and after matches than what goes on during it. Clarity was sought by the GAA they weren't the only ones confused by these new restrictions and they needed more detail to what's not allowed or is in order to keep games going and that includes grass roots.

I don't disagree with that, but it would be more a more credible position if the rules were enforced.

Sid I honestly believe I'm the opposite to a totalitarian.

Let's focus on the case at hand.

The state have closed attendance at sports in outdoor environments. I cannot see the sense of this in isolation, and particularly so when contrasted to the activities that the state continues to permit.

When one of our fellow posters is determined that the state is right, but focuses solely on teaching the GAA a lesson, and not sport in general. And every post sees a further strike against the GAA. I'm surmising that the agenda here is little to to with Covid.

Leave aside our differences. Explain why you've described my inputs here as totalitarian.

Where did I say the state was right?

You are totalitarian in the sense that anyone disagreeing with you is the enemy and has an agenda, isn't on the level. You are coming across quite Gemma O'Doherty, admittedly with far better spelling.

The GAA have been superb during this virus including allowing their own stadiums become test centes. They were correct to look for clarification on these new restrictions but it should have been done in private instead of using a social media.

Compared to other sports thats simply not correct. And saying it perpetuates the problem. No other sport publically flouted the rules. This is not tbe time for wink and nudge culture.

That is 100% not true. I have been to athletics where there was no distancing at all. None. It does just seem like a dig at the Gaa.

And were they in the wrong?