Why it's important for GAA to remain united on timing of return, explains former Down coach

Blurred lines: Steven Poacher fears secret meetings will return

©INPHO/Tommy Dickson

Blurred lines: Steven Poacher fears secret meetings will return

McBurney/Declan Bogue

Pictured Declan Bogue

Date: Thursday 12th April 2012

Location: BT Offices

Credit: Liam McBurney/RAZORPIX

Copyright: Liam McBurney/RAZORPIX

Liam McBurney - RAZORPIX

liammcburney@gmail.com

+44 7837 68 57 67

Declan Bogue Twitter

March 16 2021 08:05 AM

With an announcement expected from Stormont today about a return of community sport, the former Down underage and schools coach Steven Poacher has sounded a warning about opening up activity in Northern Ireland ahead of the Republic of Ireland.

Poacher cites some blurring of the lines last summer when restrictions were beginning to ease.

"For me, it was last June when GAA President John Horan said that GAA would not go ahead in 26 counties, it would go ahead in 32 - and yet the south were given the green light long before the north were," he explains.

"You heard all the stories then of the clubs in the north slipping across the border to play challenge matches because they weren't able to play in the north.

"If we are fit to go back and do a bit of training, yes, then I would agree. But it does open up a can of worms in that if a team along the border - take, for example, the Monaghan-Armagh border; Down-Louth border; wherever it happens to be - has a team down the road training and you are not training, then people start that meeting up in secret and taking the hand like that."

While in theory it might make sense to allow county teams back into collective training before clubs, with only the panels within each county permitted to train, Poacher believes that personal choice has a lot to do with how we are slipping into multiple lockdowns.

"A lot of this comes down to human behaviour," he adds.

"We can talk about restrictions and Stormont, a lot of it is down to human behaviour.

"People can be very selfish at times, and when the GAA announced a training ban, people should be respectful and understand that it's a ban for everyone.

"You hear reports of club teams out training already. I don't see why, because that's the reason we are in this situation. I think if we are going to move forward, yes it would be fantastic for club teams to go back training.

"County won't work in Ulster alone. You cannot have county football back but club could definitely go back, particularly underage."

Teaching in St Joseph's High School, Newry, he believes that children should be allowed to resume their sporting and extra-curricular activities soon.

"One of the biggest priorities has to be letting our underage club teams get back as soon as possible," he says.

"I think that is crucial. The fact there is no schools football is a huge blow for young people. People maybe underestimate the impact that football has in schools. Children have many talents that can be hidden in the classroom.

"And it's not just football, it is creative arts, music and drama. But, for me, Ulster Colleges have pulled the plug on competitions this year.

"It's especially difficult for us here in St Joseph's, Newry as we had a once-in-a-generation team coming. Newry Bosco won the Down Under-14 Championship for the first time in 30 years. They beat Kilcoo, Burren, Mayobridge, they beat all the big guns on their way to the title and it was unheard of for Bosco to win an A title, and we had nine of those players in our school.

"We were in an Ulster semi-final at C grade, we had won every game and topped our group and we might have went on to win the competition.

"And those lads have had no football now whatsoever. That generation have missed out on playing Ulster Colleges.

"I know there is an outcry for no MacRory, I know it is a wonderful competition but it is just as important for these lads to play for their school as it is in any college."

He adds: "It is a major kick in the teeth for us, because the Abbey, St Colman's will always have good teams, always have strong sides. It is just a given.

"But when we are competing with other sports, we are a smaller school and it is disappointing.

"I met a few of those lads last week and they were heading for a walk up Slieve Gullion and they are devastated with the news that they are never going to play for the school again."

Why it's important for GAA to remain united on timing of return, explains former Down coach

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