No more breaks

WHO benefits from a long lay off? In the English Premier League they are playing out the remaining games of the season presumably to stave off the boredom that may have affected the millionaire players as they sit in their mansions. Yet we could perhaps use the Premier League to gauge how our own Gaels might be affected by the break. I noticed that some teams in the Premier League, teams who were going well before lockdown, have not been able to regain that form. This reminds me of the Derry club leagues, which last year took a mid-season pause. Some managers told me that they felt that the system was good because it gave them a rest, but if they were on a good run, they lost all momentum because of the break. The conclusion we might arrive at, is that for league and championship to work, it’s best to run it off in a condensed, consecutive format.

RONAN SCOTT

GAA season hanging on

THE news that Atticall had to cancel training after a member tested positive for Covid-19 has brought a tentative situation close to home. Cork and Dublin have already had similar situations, and now Ulster has too. There is some worry there, understandably, but all we can do is follow the guidance from he GAA and the health officials. Outside transmission remains a much lower threat than inside, so if teams keep out of changing rooms, use space where they can and just be smart, then maybe the season can survive. A couple of the clubs affected are already back into training, so there is light at the end of the tunnel. A situation that needs watching for sure, but at the moment it’s probably still okay for the season to continue.

NIALL MCCOY

What Jack taught the GAA

JACK Charlton’s recent death afforded Irish soccer fans an opportunity to recall their glory days, when they were able to take advantage of legal loopholes for our country’s sporting gain. The less cynical of us might point to the period as one when Ireland was united in celebration. A good deal of that celebration was focused upon being better than England. That’s not really a binary that I care much for. Who cares about England? As a Derry man, I just want to beat Tyrone. What the nostalgia about Ireland’s soccer history also highlighted was the joy that a David v Goliath game can bring. Beating Italy in the 1994 World Cup was a thrilling experience. It made me think though, that if the GAA pushes on with a two-tier system, when lower teams never get a chance to have a pop at the big boys, then we will be robbed of those experiences.

RONAN SCOTT

Conor McKenna deserves a break

OUR columnist Cahal Carvill penned a great column on the Australian media reaction to Conor McKenna’s positive Covid-19 test, which may have been a false positive. The OTT grilling has led to the Tyrone man carrying the event around like a stigma and in a match at the weekend North Melbourne’s Luke McDonald made an offensive gesture towards him. McDonald did phone McKenna to apologise but it was still really out of line. A few GAA clubs have had issues with Covid-19 and here’s hoping the Gaels they come up against treat them with a bit more respect and dignity.

NIALL MCCOY