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Laois manager Quirke calls for neutral venues for inter-county fixtures

Laois senior football manager Mike Quirke says it would be sensible for the GAA to use neutral ve...



Laois manager Quirke calls for...
Football

Laois manager Quirke calls for neutral venues for inter-county fixtures

Laois senior football manager Mike Quirke says it would be sensible for the GAA to use neutral venues for inter-county games. 

The O'Moore County are due to resume their season on Saturday with a Division 2 clash with Westmeath in Mullingar.

A week later Laois are due to travel to Fermanagh for a meeting with Ryan McMenamin's side who have been beset by multiple coronavirus cases.

Level-3 COVID-19 restrictions are being placed on most of the country, while the border counties of Monaghan, Cavan and Donegal will all move to Level-4.

The remaining club championship games will be a victim to the tightened restrictions, while others have questioned how the inter-county game will be able to continue.

The Gaelic Players Assocation (GPA) are canvassing their members, asking if they want the Allianz Leagues and Championships to proceed.

Armagh's Stefan Campbell wrote on Thursday, "The emotional stress I have felt over the last 6 months is something I've never experienced and now with some light at the end of the tunnel, we have an opportunity to give joy to a nation that is at breaking point. IMO, to take that away would be a catastrophe."

Quirke feels that if the inter-county season is to go ahead, the GAA need to alter their thinking regarding venues.

"Assuming the games go ahead as planned, which is something we’ve been looking forward to for months," the Laois manager tweeted, "It would be a sensible move for the GAA to reduce the burden on teams travelling long distances, and avoid all hot spot counties by playing games in suitable neutral venues."

Once their Allianz League campaign has been completed, Laois will face a Leinster Football quarter-final against either Longford or Louth at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park or Bord na Mona O'Connor Park.

Both Leinster semi-finals and final will be played at Croke Park.

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Allianz Football League Croke Park GAA Laois Leinster Football Championship Mike Quirke Stefan Campbell