Game On: Return to action draws nearer

As is the case with almost everything nowadays, ever before the official announcement is made, the details are known. That is exactly what happened on Tuesday when An Taoiseach spoke to the nation, it was well flagged when the GAA season would resume.

Initially it was hoped that inter-county training would be begin in early April, that would allow for the leagues to commence in May, but the date being pushed back until 19 April makes the season scheduling that bit tighter.

Managers were guaranteed a four week run in for training before competitive action would commence; based on those dates the league would start on the weekend of 16/17 May in a shortened version.

In his last interview before leaving office, then GAA president John Horan said that if given the go ahead to start in May, a full season of league and championships followed by the club championships could and would be accommodated.

With the spilt season in operation, the emphasis is on the inter-county season coming first, although there was disappointment that there was no reference for the completion of the outstanding championships for 2020.

It was subsequently confirmed that as these are not classed as ‘elite’, they cannot be played for some time yet. This presents its own difficulties, especially as the minor competitions in football are not as advanced as the hurling; in fact just two games will complete the Under 20 Hurling Championship.

Cork are in the All-Ireland Final awaiting the winners of the Leinster Final between Dublin and Galway.

The GAA have stated it is their intention to finish these championships, which is very important for the players particularly those in their last year at the grade, but fitting them is not going to be easy.

Cork manager Pat Ryan is on record as saying that they will need a good run in for this crucial game, and is also conscious that some players have important exams coming up.

What shape will the season take now is the next question; the GAA have informed the various units that the a revised fixture schedule will be released late next week, and how they go about it will be watched with interest.

It is known that the football league has been revamped with the leagues streamlined.

Cork are in a group with Laois, Kildare and Clare - Division 2 South with the top two making the semi-finals where they will play the top two from the other section. The winners will meet in the final and both finalists are then promoted to Division 1.

Mark Collins has said he is looking forward to the league: “it’s a tight campaign but getting promoted will be our priority, but it won’t be easy”.

That task will not be made any easier by conceding home advantage for one game as a result of the training session on Youghal beach in January - depending on how the fixtures fall, all three games could be away from home.

Interestingly Ronan McCarthy’s 12 week suspension - another appeal is in the offing I understand - could now be up before a ball is kicked, now that the dates have been pushed back by a couple of weeks.

The football championship is like last year, expected to be straight knockout with time constraints a factor. Cork and Tipperary have byes into the Munster semi-finals, followed then by an open draw for the last four.

Hurling

In contrast, the Hurling Championship will be again give all counties a second chance, like 2020, but how will they approach the leagues?

Regionalising them is a bit more difficult than with the football, as the top two divisions are made up by counties from Munster and Leinster - trying to avoid repeat pairings is not easy.

Hurling manager Kieran Kingston said this week: “The league is important and I hope it goes ahead, we have introduced a lot of new players to our panel and getting them game time is vital in the development of the team.”

“Hopefully it’s played in the summer, last year the vast majority of the games were played in the winter, and for to miss out on two summers of hurling would be tough.”

The end of the league will be quickly followed by the championships, and this will test players and management alike; the strength and depth of all panels will be tested to the full, injuries will also be a factor.

Last year the Cork hurlers were without Eoin and Alan Cadogan for their three championships games while Darragh Fitzgibbon, Colm Spillane and Stephen McDonnell were all limited because of injury, while in football the injuries to Luke Connolly and Sean Powter weakened Cork’s challenge for the Munster Final v Tipperary.

Preparation again will be key, Kieran Kingston bemoaned the limited time he had with his players ahead of the Waterford game, so how he and Ronan McCarthy use the exclusive access they will have to their players, will be key to both campaigns.

Whatever way the fixture schedule pans out when it’s revealed next week, it is going to make for a busy and hectic period for all counties, but at least we will have games to go to.

Underage

Underage from minor down can also return to non-contact training later this month and that will come as a relief to those involved in these vital areas of our games, it will also represent a challenge for the very same mentors, but they showed last year how they are well equipped for that challenge.

The GAA in a statement said they welcome the news about resumption of activities and called for all units to continue to work hard at the protocols involved in trying to prevent anything that might hinder the restarting of games, and asked that no organised training at any level would take place, as it might jeopardise the return of games.

It is then somewhat ironic that within hours of this being released, news broke of a possible breach of the training ban regulations by a GAA team in West Cork.

In a statement, the Cork County Board said they were aware of the media reports of the alleged breach of the regulations by the unnamed club, public health guidelines are very clear and any clubs found to be in breach of these guidelines will face the consequences as a result.

The gardaí are also carrying out enquires into the possible breach of the regulations.

Given that Ronan McCarthy is currently serving a suspension for a similar breach, this is the last thing the GAA and more especially the Cork County Board need now just as there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Cork championships

Now the next task for the Cork County Board is how they will fit all this in, given that there are several championships outstanding from last season, including the Premier Senior Football decider, while the involvement of Eire Og in two finals further complicates matters.

There is also the position of promotion and relegation, which means the draws are held up, especially with the junior championships which are a long way from completion.

The Board have stated that they fully intend to complete these championships and in the process allow for adequate and proper time for preparation to all teams still involved in these very important competitions.

The Chairman and Board CEO have said they require a 15 week window from start to finish the championships, which is not a whole lot especially with dual clubs, and if Munster championships deadlines are to be met.

A prolonged run by both Cork senior teams will test the fixture making skills of the Cork Executive, but they have faced challenges before and coped and hopefully will do so again.

Finally well done to all the Cork clubs whose efforts in the Rebel’s Bounty Draw saw them raise nearly €1.9 million for the 150 plus clubs of various grades the length and breadth of the county, in these challenging times it was a supreme effort by all concerned.

Take care and stay safe.