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OurGame exclusive: Leinster GAA pencil in date for return of Gaelic games

Provincial council email sets date for return of competitive GAA action

GAA president John Horan
GAA president John Horan

An email distributed by the Leinster GAA provincial council suggests a return to competitive action by September 8, Shane Stapleton writes exclusively.

A draft calendar sent out by Leinster GAA has pencilled in a return of the Leinster Post Primary Competitions for September 8, fuelling speculation that Gaelic games across the board may also be set for a return.

There has been a cessation of all Gaelic games activity since the outbreak of Covid-19 in March of this year, but an email distributed by the provincial council shows that plans are now in place for competitive action.

Leinster GAA has pencilled in September 8 as the opening round of the Leinster Post Primary Competitions for 2020-21, meaning GAA competitions across the board may too be on the agenda.

There had been fears that the GAA may have to scrap the All-Ireland championship for 2020, but the fixture calendar circulated at May 19โ€™s Leinster PPS meeting via Microsoft Teams suggests a return in less than four monthsโ€™ time.

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John Horan recently stated on โ€˜The Sunday Gameโ€™ that there would be no return to play until social distancing was no longer in place, perhaps suggesting that games at all levels would return in unison.

The Leinster GAA email explains that this is very much a draft document โ€œgiven it is very difficult to predict what will happen within schools next September / October,” the email read.

Draft calendar 2020/21, as distributed at Leinster Post Primary Schools Meeting on May 19, 2020

โ€œThis is a starting point and if needs be we will shorten competitions using less dates and revert to knock out competitions if that is a more suitable option.

โ€œAs the landscape becomes clearer as the summer moves on, we will be in a position to update the calendar if necessary – aiming to use the dates given for the various competitions – just using less of those dates if circumstances dictate this.โ€

The IRFU have submitted their return to train and play protocols to the government as they look to hold the interprovincial clashes on the weekend of August 22/23 โ€” kickstarting rugby in both Ireland and the Pro 14.

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IRFU chief executive Philip Browne explained: โ€œThat obviously is going to require us working with the health authorities and Iโ€™m working within the guidance thatโ€™s given by the Department of Health.

โ€œBut at least if we have a target, or a stake set in the ground, we can try and work towards it. Otherwise, weโ€™re simply going to be chasing shadows.โ€

Rugby and the GAA codes are contact sports, though the formerโ€™s status as professional may allow it greater scope for return.

However, if schools games can be played as early as September, the door has perhaps been left open for club and inter-county activity to recommence too.

The GAA stated in early May that โ€œno inter-county games are expected to take place before Octoberโ€ and โ€œto suspend all inter-county training until further noticeโ€, while also confirming the appointment of a dedicated Covid-19 Advisory Group chaired by Shay Bannon.

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