Meath GAA Co Board disappointed but also understand the decision

GAA officials, players and members will be disappointed with the news last night that the return to inter-county action will not take place until Easter at the earliest.

The belief was that inter-county action would resume with with NFL and NHL with preparations starting after the scheduled expiry date of the current lockdown on 5th March.

That has now changed although elite sports will be able to continue with rugby and soccer.

“We are disappointed that the return to play has been delayed," commented Meath Co Coard PRO Ciaran Flynn.

"However, we understand why this decision has been made.

"Our Gaelic games are the fulcrum of our nation and give joy to so many.

"We will be ready and willing to play when safe to do so.

"The safety of our members and the entire community is paramount,” added the Meath PRO.

GAA Director of Communications Alan Milton was interviewed about the matter on RTE's Morning Ireland.

"It's obvious to everybody that the exemption we got last winter to proceed with the senior inter-county championships was exactly that, an exemption," he said.

"While it was welcome and the championships went off really well, I think the Government is dealing with a different scenario at the moment, in terms of different strains and the rates out there.

"It's a disappointment, but I think we're just going to have to knuckle down and show some of the flexibility that we showed in 2020 bracing into 2021," he added.

Minister of State for Department of Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture Sport and the Gaeltacht with responsibility for Sport and The Gaeltacht Jack Chambers commented later this morning on the matter.

"Once the (GAA) championships finished in December there were no fixtures in the current schedule," he said.

"We will be examining a revised plan in the next two weeks, I want to see a revised plan and I want to see our young people back playing and to see inter-county fixtures, but the priority at this point is to reinforce the public health message.

"The concession concluded at the end of last year, the GAA didn't request a concession in January or February when we met them, they were clear that there wasn't a massive appetite for a return in the immediate term.

"I want to see the broader return of inter-county football, camogie and ladies football and we will be trying to provide that in the updated plan towards the end of the month," he added.