Murphy calls for inter-county games to be postponed

Roscommon-based Senator Eugene Murphy has said it was a mistake to allow GAA inter-county games to go ahead over the weekend.

And the Fianna Fáil politician (pictured above) has called on the GAA, even at this late stage, to postpone matches for a number of weeks.

“Irrespective of what further restrictions are announced later today (Monday), I think the GAA needs to postpone inter-county games for a number of weeks. I think it was a grave mistake allowing those games to go ahead over the weekend.

"I am one of the most avid sports fans in Co. Roscommon including GAA, soccer and rugby, but I fear that we may look back with regret in a few weeks’ time when we see the results of allowing these games to go ahead,” said Senator Murphy.

Last Saturday evening, Roscommon defeated Armagh in the Athletic Grounds to virtually secure promotion to Division 1 of the Allianz Football League. But Senator feels the last round of the league - due to be played next weekend - should be postponed.

“I do not want to take from Roscommon’s great win at the weekend and I realise the great joy and wellbeing these games brought to so many people, but Covid-19 is out of control, numbers are increasing every day. I think it is outrageous and unacceptable that we could not ask the GAA to postpone these matches for a few weeks,” he continued.

Senator Murphy raised the issue in the Seanad last Friday when he expressed serious reservations about inter-county games going ahead.

“Politicians of all sides have to be brave and sometimes we have to say unpopular things. I would appeal to the GAA even at this late stage to postpone these games for a number of weeks. Squads all over the country have doctors, frontline workers, teachers etc, and you have to take into account referees, umpires, media also attending the games, and I would just fear that we will see the knock-on effects of allowing these games to go ahead in a few weeks’ time when it’s too late,” concluded Senator Murphy.