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Club Players' Association call for county finals to take place without crowds

The CPA wants the entire club season finished
The CPA wants the entire club season finished

The Club Players Association has called on the GAA to allow county finals to take place behind closed doors.

Croke Park confirmed on Monday that club matches around the country would be postponed following video footage of various clubs celebrating victories without practicing social distancing rules.

It means that football finals in Cork and Donegal, as well as hurling finals in Offaly and Laois, among others, won't be taking place this weekend.

The club representative group says that the the number of finals left to be played is small, and that forcing clubs to train for a game in the future without a set date will increase their costs.

"We agree that the lack of social distancing in some stands is totally unsatisfactory and the after-match behaviour in a few clubs has been disappointing, to say the least." the CPA said in a statment.

"We feel that cancelling club games is unfair on players who through no fault of their own are being denied the chance to finish what has been a unique and challenging season."

Micheál Briody, Chairman of the CPA added: "we have been contacted by a lot of clubs over the last 24/48 hours, distressed and disappointed that their season has been brought to an abrupt and unsatisfactory end.

"They all understand the need to tighten restrictions, but are appealing to have the chance to finish out their campaign."

"Club players and supporters across all counties greatly appreciated the 11 weeks ring-fenced for Clubs. With uninterrupted access to players, the interest and excitement generated at Club Level was a tremendous showcase for our games and surpassed all expectations.

"The GAA leadership centrally, at provincial level and in some counties have attracted unfair criticism. This criticism has been for situations where they have little control over an individual's behaviour, and where Association guidelines have been ignored or flouted.

"We all understand the euphoria of championship success, but some of the behaviour has rightly attracted scrutiny in light of the pandemic we are all living through.

"We do not condone this at all."

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