*Photograph: John Mangan
Clare’s minor footballers are restricting their movements while sporting clubs in the county have entered into lockdown.
Midweek it emerged that members of the county minor football panel were in self-isolation after panellists tested positive for COVID-19.
Members of the Clare minor football panel travelled by bus to play Galway in a challenge game last weekend. Advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) and the GAA is for players to travel separately to training and games unless they are living in the same household as fellow passengers.
“Unfortunately this game was fixed for a Friday evening and as you are well aware it is hard to get parents in cars to travel with under seventeens of a Friday evening down to Galway. The team is preparing for the Munster championship which is coming up in a couple of weeks, the most important thing of all is the health and safety of all our players and backroom team,” Chairman of Clare GAA, Joe Cooney explained on Clare FM’s Morning Focus.
He added, “No one is saying using the bus is the cause of this panel member testing positive but unfortunately it is the situation we are in”.
Claims that a member of the panel had been tested for the virus but had to receive results before stepping foot on the bus have been denied by Clare GAA officials and minor management.
Subsequent to confirmation of a positive case of COVID-19, the entire panel and management have been tested. They are due to play Tipperary in Semple Stadium on October 24th in the provincial quarter-final.
On Friday night, Corofin GAA club announced that all activity in the club was suspended until further notice. A review on the matter will be held by the club executive next week. “All activities on club grounds remain suspended and gates will be closed,” a spokesperson confirmed.
Kilrush RFC informed members on Saturday morning that rugby activity within the club has been postponed until October 19th. “We are working very closely to manage this situation in the safest way possible and we will advise you when we consider it safe to return to play”.
