By Barry O’Donnell

IT still remains unclear how many fans will be permitted into club games in the North when action resumes next weekend.

The GAA have attempted to follow the Irish government’s roadmap but there have been a few stumbling blocks. For example, challenge matches were permitted south of the border from June 29 but not in the North until July 17.

As it stands, club attendances are following the South’s lead, and that means that up to 200 people will be allowed into fixtures taking place between July 17 and 19.

Phase Four of the government’s roadmap kicks in on July 20 and that will allow crowds of up to 500 to attend games including gates officials, players, backroom staff and spectators.

“Attendances at games must be in accordance with the maximum permitted numbers as stipulated by the Irish Government and NI Executive so effectively not at the discretion of any unit of the association,” Ulster GAA said.

As it stands, some fixtures are scheduled to take place before phase four, including the opening round of Tyrone’s All-County League, which take place on Sunday week.

With club supporters deprived of their GAA fix following four months in hibernation, Eugene McConnell, the Tyrone PRO, knows there will be huge interest in the opening round programme of games, which will include heavyweight clashes like Dromore v Omagh and Ardboe v Carrickmore.

The Clogher man expects some clarity from the GAA in advance of the return to action next weekend.

“That question has been asked of me (turnstiles open) and at the minute I haven’t seen a specific instruction around those complications, and access to grounds.

“If the safety measures are in place around social distancing and sanitation, people will try and work with it. We’ll adapt again as we have done.”

McConnell hopes that supporters are acutely aware of current sensitivities and will take advice from gate officials in terms of social distancing if it proves to be an issue.

“People will have to be sensible and accept that what clubs are doing is in their best interests. Safety is paramount and we can’t have a scenario that can jeopardise that. We hope big games can accommodate decent numbers but always keeping in mind the protocols.”

At the minute there will be a limit on spectator numbers (200) next Sunday in line with Government directives and spectators will be separated from players in line with social distancing requirements.

However all the plans are predicated on the current progress in the fight against coronavirus being maintained, which could yet see Phase Four accelerated in terms of ground capacity before July 19.

McConnell explained that aside from the initial directive about the figures allowed in grounds released last month there had been no update since.

“Of course as the situation develops each day and week and things hopefully improve, the Advisory Group at Croke Park will be looking at the stats. As it stands at the minute we have to comply with their initial findings about crowds.

“Let’s hope it gradually improves as the confirmed (Covid) cases drops. Of course everybody is still conscious of it and for that reason the mindset is that there has to be a restriction of numbers.

“We can’t have everybody sitting on top of each other in stands or packed into terracing. That can’t be happening. We just have to minimise the risk that there is.”

McConnell also praised Tyrone clubs for adhering to the GAA’s guidelines since they have returned to training, both at senior and youth level.

As part of these guidelines a parent/guardian of each underage player is required to compete an online e-learning module.

On completion of the module the player is required to take a short test to generate a Certificate of completion, which is then forwarded to the appointed Covid-19 co-ordinator.

Senior players and a parent of u-18s are also required to reconfirm the health questionnaire before every training session and every game.

“So far it’s a case of so far so good,” stated the County PRO. “It’s like any new scheme that comes in that we are not totally sure about. It will always throw up a bit of ambiguity. In the main though it has been widely accepted as part and parcel of the protocol to keep all our members, including our youth players, safe.

“There is going to be a few teething problems but to be fair to parents they have worked their way through it.

“The Covid supervisors at all the clubs have adapted very quickly. It has been an accepted norm since training resumed on the June 29. It’s just a matter of going on the app and seeing that everybody has reconnected and reaffirmed that there is no change in their circumstances from the previous training session. As things continue hopefully it will get a bit easier but of course it has been difficult for everyone concerned.”

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