“It Is One Sorry Mess At The Minute”

Derrick Lynch

Clare’s minor football season looks to be over before it began with reports breaking on Wednesday morning that all underage competitions were to be put on hold during Level 5 Covid-19 restrictions.

Dermot Coughlan’s charges were to be the last Clare underage side to embark on provincial action as they were preparing to travel to Thurles to take on Tipperary in the Munster quarter-final on Saturday afternoon.

The announcement of Level 5 restrictions on Monday evening led to much speculation as to what the future held for underage competitions with elite sport and intercounty action given the go-ahead to continue.

Reports began to circulate on Wednesday morning that a Government official had confirmed that it was only senior level games that would be given the green light to continue after midnight on Wednesday, meaning the Banner’s trip to Thurles was left in jeporady.

Speaking on Wednesday Coughlan, who is in his 12^th year involved with Clare underage sides and his second year as minor boss, admits it is a huge disappointment and was critical of how the situation was handled.

“The Government made the announcement on Monday night but it seems to be the wording that caused the issue. It took from Monday to Wednesday to correct it and my phone was lighting up on Wednesday morning with parents looking to know what was going on, and to be honest at that stage I did not know myself. It is very disappointing for the lads because we were five weeks away from championship when it was postponed the last time and now we are only days away so it should not have come down to this. If there is a serious health issue around having these games, then there is no question but that they should be pulled. There are U17 and U16 girls playing ladies football and camogie, and that is great for them and they should be allowed to continue, but what is the difference between that and allowing U17 boys to play” he questioned.

Coughlan also highlighted that there are benefits outside of just sport to teenagers having that outlet.

“It is becoming a real mental health issue in my view. I am talking to parents every day and they are telling me that these lads are going straight home from school and looking forward to training. The winter is closing in now and what are they going to have to occupy them other than gathering with their friends. The Government and the GAA really need to get grip on this and not turn it into a guessing game. You had a situation during the week where more people could go to a wedding than a funeral until they corrected that too. It is one sorry mess at the minute” he stated.

The Kilmurry Ibrickane clubman also feels that the decision is being made off the back of intense criticism of the GAA online in the aftermath of the announcement that games would be continuing during the Level 5 lockdown.

“Something has certainly changed from Monday. You are talking about the wording of it. If it was pulled on Monday night, we would have been disappointed but also held up our hands and said the announcement was official from NPHET and the Government. It survived from then until Wednesday morning before they decided the minors were gone. There is pressure coming from somewhere but it doesn’t make sense that it took that long to get the message through. The lads were aware of it too as soon as it started to break and were chatting to each on Whatsapp and saying how disappointed they were. On Wednesday lunchtime, we still hadn’t got official notice that the game was gone. If it is pulled, those that mean training is gone too? Those six weeks bring you into December and what way will pitches and the weather be at that stage? We are really going into the unknown now at this stage” he said.

Speaking earlier in the week, Coughlan was looking forward to a good battle with the Premier and outlined that the protocols surrounding the fixture

“Games between us were always tight enough up along the grades. Tipperary are a bit like Clare in the sense that they also have the dual concerns to contend with. At this level we playing them in November of last year in the Manning Cup and they beat us by a couple of points. You cannot guage that 12 months on but I was impressed with them that evening. As for where they are now, I really don’t know because with no challenge games or anything like that, none of us has a guage on each other. It is just unfortunate that a few more people cannot go to watch these lads play because I really think they are a talented group” he outlined.