Dubs' training breach was the last thing the GAA needed ahead of its return
TYNAN'S TAKE BY STUART TYNAN
HANDS up if you thought it was an early April Fools joke. There were a good few ones going around on social media last week for sure.
Scrolling through my phone on Thursday morning, I saw a few tweets about the six-in-a-row All-Ireland champions convening for an early-morning training session. As you might think, yet another April 1st joke. But when many of the national media outlets all begin to report on it, it stops being funny.
The story that made the front page of the Irish Independent last Thursday was just so frustrating to read as several members of the Dublin team, including Footballer of the Year Brian Fenton, Jonny Cooper and Brian Howard, apparently took part in a series of group training drills on Wednesday morning at the Innisfails GAA Club in north Dublin.
I'm sure the cynics are saying: "Sure they're outside kicking a ball about, what's the issue?" But it's not the point at all.
The vast majority of the public have made huge sacrifices over the past year. The restrictions have taken a physical and mental toll on us all but we have, by and large, accepted them.
So when we see some of the most recognisable faces in Irish sport on one the greatest teams in GAA history breaking the rules less than 12 hours after GAA clubs and counties up and down the country were told by Croke Park that any breaches of the ban on collective training could put the GAA's scheduled return on April 19 in serious jeopardy, you can understand why people are more than a little peeved at what's going on.
Is it brazen arrogance or mind-numbing stupidity? You can decide.
There has been precedence for Covid breaches in GAA. Dungarvan were stripped of their Waterford IFC title after fielding a player awaiting results of a Covid-19 test, which turned out positive. Three members of Mayo backroom team were suspended after they broke Covid-19 guidelines and entered Croke Park for the All-Ireland final. Cork and Down managers were hit with respective 12-week suspensions for training breaches also.
Dublin GAA decided to be proactive and suspend manager Dessie Farrell for the same amount of time the Cork and Down managers received (Down boss Paddy Tally had his reduced to eight on appeal), but the GAA itself needs to be seen to do something also.
It could see several of the players involved receive similar suspensions, effectively ruling them out for all the league and for a lot of the championship.
We'll see if they think it was worth it should that come to pass.
Grand National returns
FRESH off a great Cheltenham Festival, all eyes this Saturday will be on the horse racing’s biggest event, the Grand National.
People with little or just a casual interest in the sport stop what they’re doing and watch the race, and will know about fences like Becher’s Brook, The Chair and The Canal Turn.
It’s a welcome return for the event, which didn’t take place last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Of course, trying to pick the winner in this race is like trying to pick the lottery numbers. Cloth Cap and Burrows Saint are among two of the favourites, while the likes of Minella Times, Kimberlite Candy, Any Second Now, Secret Reprieve, Bristol De Mai, The Storyteller and Magic Of Light are in the mix.
If I’m going to pick one, Minella Times is my choice for one simple reason: Rachael Blackmore. She had a sensational Cheltenham Festival. Could she go on to win the world’s most famous race also?
*You can read Stuart's full column every Tuesday in our print edition.