ANTRIM HURLER NEIL McManus has serious concerns about the impact Brexit will have on the GAA in the six counties.
An All-Ireland club finalist with Cushendall in 2016, McManus believes GAA will suffer if a ‘hard border’ returns.
“For the GAA in Ulster if it came to a situation where there was a hard border which looks likely at the minute, because there’s been no alternative set out, then it would cause serious problems for a county like Antrim.
“I would say 90% of the games we play are against opposition in the 26 counties. A hard border would just be terrible because it would put people off crossing it.
“Ireland is a small place and to draw a line across the country is madness in the first place and to have physical check-points then would be hugely negative.
“On the whole, Brexit was so negative. There’s no argument that can give you anything other than a fiscal indication of negativity coming out of Brexit.
“We don’t know what sort of impact it will have and, at best, we’ll be able to stay where we were with no hope of progression because we’re cutting down the places where we’re able to do business.
“We’re cutting down the places that we can go to, we’re removing the ability to move freely, we’re removing the ability of people to travel which is crazy, the Irish love to travel.”
Geographical isolation has been put forward as an obstacle to Antrim’s hurling progress but McManus is reluctant to pinpoint that as the sole reason.
“I don’t like to use excuses for Antrim hurling’s current position. So I don’t think we can use that geographical issue as the reason why Antrim are where they are.
“I think we have to look a wee bit closer to home on that front and go back to the building blocks that Antrim hurling was traditionally known for – hard work and honesty.”
McManus is currently out of action with a broken jaw but is looking forward to rejoining an Antrim squad that top the table in Division 2A of the Allianz Hurling League.
“We have the players who are capable of playing in Division One. But I’m sure that Westmeath, Carlow, Kildare, and the other teams pushing for promotion out of 2A feel the same.
“But I genuinely believe in our squad. We have the ability, anyone outside of Antrim could tell you about all the good players we have, but it’s the way we’re behaving, the way that we’re working, that’s the most encouraging part.”
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