UDPATE:
Full GAA panels will be allowed to attend the All-Ireland finals.
Junior Minister Mary Butler has confirmed that the full 36 member panel involved in the matches will be allowed to go to Croke Park.
Minister of State for Sport Jack Chambers confirmed the news to the Waterford Deputy just after midday on Monday.
Mary Butler says she hopes a further request to allow family members attend will also be granted.
Glad to confirm that full panels will be permitted to attend on match days when Ireland moves to Level 3 from tomorrow
— Jack Chambers TD (@jackfchambers) November 30, 2020
A WATERFORD junior minister is calling for all 36 players on county panels to be allowed attend the All-Ireland finals this year.
Mary Butler says she believes each member of the panel should also be allowed have two family members attend with them, and there should be scope for the county boards to attend too.
Speaking on Deise Today this morning, the Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People pointed out that Croke Park has a capacity of 82,000 people and this would equate to no more than 100 people present per team.
She told Damien Tiernan that in her view this wouldn't be "a big ask" and obviously, all covid protocols around social distancing and mask wearing etc would be in place.
"All-Ireland Finals are obviously very special occasions for players, coaches and their families. However, it is sometimes lost on us the ripple effect that players making a panel and attending a final have in their local communities," said Mary Butler.
"There is a support system behind these players, who helped them to get to this level, by honing their natural talent, instilling the fundamental skills of the game."
"While we cannot have a crowd in the stands in the year of a pandemic, it would be such a moral boost for towns, villages, their clubs and everyone involved within that inner community to at least be represented at the match by a player they have produced and supported over the years."
Meanwhile, also on Deise Today this morning, Damien was joined by hurling legends and commentators Fergal Hartley, Christy Heffernan of Kilkenny, Shane Ahern and Kieran O'Connor to look back on Saturday evening's fantastic semi-final clash against Kilkenny!
You can listen back to all the match coverage from this morning, and to Minister Mary Butler's interview, by clicking below here...
