Hopeful of August return for Mayo club football

BY AIDEN HENRY

AFTER a week which saw some sports back up and running again with the first phase of easing the lockdown restrictions that were implemented to try and slow the spread of Covid-19, there is now renewed hope that as the weeks go by we will see many more sports return to action.

Indeed, there is a possibility that the lifting of phases two, three, four and five could be brought forward if the deadly virus continues to be suppressed.

If what we have seen happen in the past week or so regarding the reducing of Covid-19 deaths and new cases coming down the line, there is some light at the end of the tunnel.

However, there are many divided opinions on when, or if, we will see any kind of action on the GAA playing fields this year.

When the president of the association, John Horan, has said that it will be October at least before any inter-county action could take place, it didn’t install any great confidence that we will see any action for the remainder of 2020.

Perhaps Horan is looking at the possible worst case scenario and maybe if things continue to change for the better we could see a rethink on a return date for Gaelic games.

I am also of the opinion that the GAA are looking closely at what impact, if any, the return to action in other sports will have, not alone in this country but throughout Europe.

Top level soccer has returned in Germany and is due to return in the likes of Spain and Italy, two of the countries most affected by the coronavirus, in the very near future.

Playing rugby at the top level is pencilled in for a return in August. If rugby games can be played then one feels any team game can be played.

With all of this in mind, Mayo County Board vice-chairman and chairman of the competitions committee, Con Moynihan, said that he was hopeful that we could see a return to club action in August.

"If there are no negatives with the lifting of restrictions in the different phases in the coming weeks I would be very hopeful of getting club action back up and running here in Mayo by August," stated Moynihan.

"In recent weeks we have seen a decline in the number of deaths and cases in the country and one can only look on this as very positive.

"Of course it is early days yet and for the moment we have to wait and see if this trend continues as the restrictions are lifted on a phased basis. But if they do, I think we might even see some of the phases brought forward.

"As of now the opening up of GAA grounds is down for July 20, phase four. We are almost into June now and while July 20 might seem a long way away now, it will come around quickly.

"If everything goes to plan and clubs can get back into training I could see the return of club games by August.

"We have plans for a return to club action in place whenever that might be.

"These plans have changed on a number of occasions up to now but we have to be ready for the start up-date which will be decided by the health authorities and when we are sure it is safe to do so for everyone.

"We are now at the stage where clubs and players are itching to get back to action. I am sure they are watching developments in other countries regarding getting sport back up and running.

"If the return to sport in these countries show no signs of spreading the coronavirus, they will continue to put a lot of pressure and the authorities to lift the sanctions earlier in this country.

"If it becomes possible that the GAA grounds can be opened before July 20 it would be fantastic, especially for the health and well-being of players.

"Players of all ages are now at the stage where they feel they have been very supportive and have adhered to the restrictions that were put in place.

"But at this stage all they want is to get back to playing the game they love. I am sure it is the same for every different sports players. However, their patience will be required for a little longer.

"We all know what a very serious virus this is and what it can do. We must continue to realise that it has brought the world to it knees and it is going to change the way we live life in the future.

"However, while I am saying that we will only return when the health authorities say it is safe to do so, I am more confident in the past week or two that we will see club action return.

"We are ready for the green light and when that green light arrives, we would be able to run off the plan we have presently in place for the club championships and a new league structure in a 13-week period.

"For now the one thing we are all hoping for is that upward curve with suppressing the coronavirus continues and if it does we will see at least club football played this year and hopefully as early as August," concluded Moynihan.