As the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) appears set to impact many sports-related gatherings, Kieran Donaghy considered what may become of the GAA's games schedule, and why playing behind closed doors may not appeal to the players themselves on Wednesday's OTB AM. 

Amid the many, many commentators sharing their opinions online or elsewhere, Kieran Donaghy wanted to make it clear on that he doesn't possess the required expertise to talk with any great authority on the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Speaking on Wednesday's OTB AM, Donaghy's contribution to the discussion came via an area where the value of his insights is without question.

"I don't think that stopping games is the way to go," he remarked of the possibility that the virus could bring the GAA's games to a halt. "We're not too far removed from schools possibly being shut and people working from home. You need something to sit around and watch, to talk about on WhatsApp or Twitter or whatever.

"They could maybe start staggering games so they could show more of them, or maybe the GAA could stream more games and people can see them all. As horrible as it would be to play games in empty stadiums, I certainly think it is something we need to be on the front foot for.

"It will just be too dangerous if we're just reacting to it.

Yet, while at this point in the association's calendar Kieran Donaghy is open to the possibility that games will be played behind closed doors, if the issues surrounding coronavirus spread all the way into the championship the four-time All-Ireland winner's outlook changes.

30 August 2014; Kerry's Kieran Donaghy, centre, and James O'Donoghue celebrate with fans after the final whistle. Picture credit: Stephen McCarthy / SPORTSFILE

A member of a Kerry team that enjoyed many successful days on the biggest stage of Gaelic football, Kieran Donaghy doesn't want to see such games played without fans in the grounds.

"It is eerie and does take away from the occasion massively," he noted of games bigger than those in the National Football League. "It is something we don't want to see."

For the sake of an already congested calendar, however, he conceded that sacrifices may be necessary. In this regard, Donaghy admitted that he may be open to seeing provincial games take place behind closed doors.

"They haven't been good the last few years," he reasoned, "there's very rarely a good game apart from the odd final.

"Maybe put a stop to [the games then], let lads go back to their clubs and wait for the coronavirus to clear. I don't think anyone wants to play an All-Ireland quarter or semi-final with nobody in the crowd.

"Players don't play to be out there in an empty stadium. The buzz and few extra percentage points you get out on the field when you hear that roar from the crowd is a lot of the reason why people do all of this.

"It would be shocking if there were big games going on in the summer and nobody in the stadium. Play as much as you can, but when it gets down to the nitty-gritty of the championship and people are mad to go to games, just wait then."

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