COVID RISK IS NOT ON THE PITCH
After virus setback in Meath, Royals’ PRO points to positives
‘Gaelic games are a positive right now, not a negative’
IT’S a sign of the times that an interview about Meath GAA and a club competing in the county senior football championship was dominated by talk of Covid-19 and its effects; Meath PRO Ciarán Flynn playing the role of acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn and giving a detailed medical bulletin on the fresh case in Simonstown Gaels.
Speaking to LMFM, he wasn’t just wearing his official board hat but was speaking also as a referee and player himself with Dunsany. So he was able to give a point of view from a number of different relevant angles on the rolling news story that concerns the latest club to have to suspend all activity for 48 hours after an adult player tested positive for Covid.
First things first, Flynn revealed the player in question is doing well, and the case didn’t seem to be related to sporting activity but to work on the frontline.
‘Along with the detail that Simonstown Gaels have released into the media themselves, just one or two other things. Thankfully, we can confirm that the person who has Covid-19 is well. They’re not in any severe health difficulties. But they are a frontline worker. They got it in the act of their job,’ he said.
‘Thankfully, that means they didn’t get it on a football or hurling field in Co. Meath. That is something a lot of GAA clubs around the country were concerned with – did he get it playing football or while working? The evidence suggests he got it while working. That’s a bit of solace.’
Because that is what any concerned parent or family member is thinking – with Gaelic games activity back at all levels around the country, the evidence so far is that playing sport isn’t the problem when it comes to contracting the virus. ‘The science that has come out in recent months and the evidence thus far with other GAA clubs who have had this scare, there hasn’t been any other clusters or spreads resulting from GAA,’ Flynn adds. ‘I think the scientific committee in Croke Park, and Central Council, did suggest that the time the players are in close contact is not sufficient enough for a massive spreading of the virus. The evidence suggests that won’t be an issue. But the vulnerability is there. That’s why the whole planet is so concerned about Covid-19,; why Simonstown Gaels have wisely contacted the HSE; followed the guidelines; ave sent infographics to their members.
‘The opponents of Simonstown are all following similar guidelines, taking 48 hours off. Everyone is just doing their duty of care to their members and to the wider community. Hopefully in 48 hours it will all be shown to be an isolated incident and we can all get back to playing our games.’
In fact, every positive test from a player that doesn’t lead on to a further positive test arising from training or a competitive fixture only backs up the science so far that the risk of transmission even in a contact sport such as Gaelic football is low compared to some other indoor settings.
‘Thus far, other GAA clubs who have had these incidents haven’t spread it,’ explains Flynn. ‘The players haven’t spread it.
‘I myself am a player with Dunsany. We’re training away, playing away. None of the players are concerned about a risk... Thankfully, the GAA field is one of the safer places to be... The risk is just not there in comparison to other things.’
He added given the physical and mental health boost players get from getting back out on the pitch, Gaelic games are ‘a positive in this scenario, not a negative’.
On the thorny issue of finance though, he did admit that, no more than so many other counties, the lack of gate receipts due to crowd restrictions will have a dire impact on the bottom line.
‘One of the biggest revenues for Meath GAA are gate receipts. So that has taken a massive hit... We haven’t been able to have a golf classic yet, have a race day in Fairyhouse. Some businesses that thrive in frontline services have done so well but so many of our sponsors are hit so much... That’s one of the biggest concerns with the inter-county season going ahead – how are we going to fund our teams? We’re just hoping to stay in there and when things get back to normal, we’ll be able to have a few fundraisers and get people back.’