Football

Ryan McCluskey: Making Fermanagh play damages player welfare

Former Fermanagh star Ryan McCluskey. Picture by Seamus Loughran
Former Fermanagh star Ryan McCluskey. Picture by Seamus Loughran Former Fermanagh star Ryan McCluskey. Picture by Seamus Loughran

SOME of Fermanagh’s players are facing having to play a National League game in Ennis the same day they come out of quarantine, which former star Ryan McCluskey believes will be harmful to player welfare.

The Erne county panel has been struck by an outbreak of Covid-19 that is understood to have laid out as many as nine players.

Fermanagh boss Ryan McMenamin called on the GAA to postpone the game earlier this week, and with the team hotel having reportedly cancelled their booking, they are facing the prospect of a 300-mile round trip to Ennis on the day of the game.

Clare currently sit two points about the Ernemen, who are bottom of Division Two but for whom a win would create a very real opportunity to survive ahead of a final-day clash with Laois.

McCluskey, who retired in 2018 after a 19-year career with his county, says it would be unfair on the county to be relegated over the situation.

“Listen, prior to covid, our county was in that position and the league doesn’t lie, but you don’t want to go down over this. You want to be given a fair crack of the whip and if the lads aren’t good enough for Division Two, I’m sure Ricey and the lads will hold their hands up.

“I just think there’d be an injustice. That’s not just Fermanagh, that’s any team in a similar scenario. It could haunt some team going for promotion the next few weeks and that would be equally horrible to be cost it.

“From chatting to a few of the lads, yes knock the game back, but give the lads a chance to recover from what’s been happened and give them a chance to retain their Division Two status. They haven’t been looking for anything else.

“It’s a hard pill to swallow when the county has to go to the media. It shouldn’t need to be done. It leaves a bitter taste.

“The GAA have been good during the pandemic but in this case, they need to show a bit of logic and leave it for a couple of weeks, and then try to get the fixture on.

“There hasn’t been a rush before so why not just give it a few weeks and ensure that player safety is paramount?

“I know from the quarantine there’s a number of those lads would only be coming out of quarantine on the day of the game. God only knows at that stage, other lads may have it.

“It’s bananas. If you are from a bigger county, this wouldn’t even be a conversation, it would be dealt with.

“As much as the GPA try and do their bit, how much pull do they have when it comes to situations like this? It has to be a player welfare issue.

“The lads isolating, there’s clubmates of mine among them and they haven’t been too well over the whole thing. They’ve done no training or preparation.

“Our own [Enniskillen] Gaels lads are only out of quarantine the morning of that game, and one of them hasn’t been well during the whole episode. For him to go in that day, it’s frightening. God knows what the after-effects are on his body.

“You’re looking for someone to step in. The GPA have had some chats with management but you’re hoping that it’s addressed now and gives management and the county a chance to recover from this crisis,” said McCluskey.