Northern Ireland

Sam stays shelved at Croke Park as trophy homecoming delayed over Covid

Tyrone's Kieran McGeary with the Sam Maguire Cup after defeating Mayo at Croke Park Dublin on Saturday. Picture by Philip Walsh.
Tyrone's Kieran McGeary with the Sam Maguire Cup after defeating Mayo at Croke Park Dublin on Saturday. Picture by Philip Walsh. Tyrone's Kieran McGeary with the Sam Maguire Cup after defeating Mayo at Croke Park Dublin on Saturday. Picture by Philip Walsh.

Tyrone football fans will have to wait a little longer for Sam Maguire to come to the county, as GAA chiefs await the easing of Covid-19 restrictions before planning to host celebrations with the famous trophy.

Plans to bring the Sam Maguire Cup to Tyrone following Saturday's All-Ireland Final victory over Mayo have been shelved amid concerns over ongoing restrictions that include risk assessments for large outdoor gatherings and recommendations on social distancing.

Despite the cup delay thousands of fans gathered at Healy Park in Omagh on Sunday to welcome home the jubilant players following their first senior football title win since 2008.

Players including man-of-the-match Dan McCurry, whose goal helped clinch victory at Dublin's Croke Park, spoke of the "unbelievable" reception they received.

Other restrictions that currently affect GAA clubs in the north include minimising the use of dressing rooms, where sanitisation stations should be present and access restricted to non-players and club personnel.

However, despite deputy first minister Michelle O'Neill congratulating the squad for "bringing the Sam Maguire home after 13 years", the trophy remains at Croke Park.

A spokesman for Tyrone GAA told the Irish News that it was unlikely to be presented publicly to the team in Tyrone before the end of October at the earliest.

Tyrone GAA PRO Eugene McConnell said the county would "wait on guidance" before announcing plans for any public presentation.

"The cup wont be back in Tyrone for a while as we are waiting for an easing of the current restrictions before making plans to do so," he told the Irish News.

"We are optimistic that when things improve and the guidance is clear that we will be able to bring Sam back to Tyrone and do so in a safe manner."