Limerick and Na Piarsaigh hurler Shane Dowling says he cannot see how there is an 'argument' to play GAA once social distancing measures are in place.
The 2018 All-Ireland winner exclusively told OTB he doesn't understand why it would be safe to hold matches behind closed doors, but not safe to have any crowds there during the pandemic.
"There's some people I can't understand and there's some people that I can. I thought (GAA President) John Horan was exceptional on The Sunday Game on Sunday night. He's definitely the best person I have heard speak about it, in terms of his views on it. People going on about playing games behind closed doors, I can't quite understand it. I thought John hit the nail on the head. If it's safe for the players to play, then it's safe for people to attend the games.
Dowling believes there has been confusing commentary about what he feels is a straightforward situation.
"I read one particular interview last week - they were going on about social distancing, having players going into dressing rooms four at a time - having four in, four out going to matches, in twos rather than fours - that we are queuing up in supermarkets - so we could queue to go into dressing rooms - but then goes on to say - but go and play a match afterwards.
"I couldn't get my head around it. How could you go about social distancing in dressing rooms, but 10 minutes later go out onto a pitch and be hanging off each other?"
Shane Dowling on return
Dowling says there needs to be clear guidance from the health service about the way forward before any return to play.
"I would be wary until (Chief Medical Officer) Tony Holohan or the hierarchy up there come out and say it's safe for a congregation of people of 100, 500, a thousand to come together and they don't have the social distancing.
"If Tony Holohan comes out and says that we have to social distance until there is a vaccine, I don't see any other way around it (by not playing).
"Why would GAA players be any different to anybody else in the country? We still have to go home to our houses. I was talking to one particular club player the other day who has got a parent at home with an underlying condition and they certainly won't play until it's safe to do so. If it's not safe to do so, they won't play. I don't get the big rigmarole about it."
He added that money can't be a factor when it comes to resuming GAA activity.
"I saw another particular interview where someone said that there's a big financial benefit to get out of playing these games. Forget about the financial benefit, worry about the safety."
GAA facilities are closed until July 20th and some volunteers would like pitches open before then.
Dowling says it's not a one size fits all situation when it comes to the safety of gathering at clubs.
"It's a very tricky situation. Take Na Piarsaigh, my own club. We have got fantastic facilities, we've got three big pitches, we have a huge space. We would be able to go in and puck around in fours and keep social distancing. We could have maybe 10 or 12 or 15 groups of four going in and pucking around, and I know it wouldn't be a problem. But you have other clubs, a lot of other rural clubs, they've just got the one pitch. It would be very hard for them to manage that. It can't be one rule for one and one rule for another. It has to be one rule across the board."
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