Football

Fermanagh halt collective training after 'small number' of positive Covid tests

Ryan McMenamin's Fermanagh side are due to take on Clare and Laois in their final two National League games, before an Ulster Championship date with Down on Sunday, November 8. Picture by Philip Walsh
Ryan McMenamin's Fermanagh side are due to take on Clare and Laois in their final two National League games, before an Ulster Championship date with Down on Sunday, November 8. Picture by Philip Walsh Ryan McMenamin's Fermanagh side are due to take on Clare and Laois in their final two National League games, before an Ulster Championship date with Down on Sunday, November 8. Picture by Philip Walsh

THE Fermanagh panel has stopped collective training as a precautionary measure after “a small number” of county players returned positive Covid-19 tests.

Even before the GAA’s decision to call an immediate halt to club games yesterday, several in Fermanagh had already opted to suspend activities as a result of positive cases.

On Sunday Enniskillen Gaels and Tempo Maguire’s confirmed they had suspended activities with immediate effect due to cases within their clubs, while Belcoo and Belnaleck followed suit as a result of positive tests in the community.

Derrygonnelly took the decision to suspend all club activities for 48 hours as a precautionary measure having decided not to travel to Roslea for their senior league match on Saturday.

“A small number of players within the Fermanagh senior football panel have returned positive tests for Covid-19,” confirmed a Fermanagh GAA spokesperson.

“At this stage, we are following advice from the Public Health Agency on dealing with this matter. In order to prevent any further spread of this virus, and to protect the health of all those involved and the wider community, all activities within this panel are suspended until further notice.

“The GAA has taken a proactive approach since the outbreak of this pandemic and will continue to do so in the time ahead. We ask all those involved in our games to follow the advice from the public health authorities and the GAA at this time.”

The Ernemen, who face a fight to stave off relegation from Division Two, are due to take on Clare and Laois in their final two National League games, before an Ulster Championship date with Down on Sunday, November 8 – provided the All-Ireland series still has the green light to go ahead by then.

Meanwhile, following’s yesterday’s announcement from the GAA, the Ladies’ Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) has also called an immediate halt to club games across the country.

Ulster LGFA had already taken the decision to postpone their provincial club championship over a week ago because of the level three restrictions introduced in Donegal and a number of positive confirmed cases in clubs involved in the provincial campaign.

However, training can continue as long as guidelines are observed.

"The decision has been taken in the interest of public safety following a number of incidents that have been brought to our attention in recent days, in particular post-match celebrations and a lack of social distancing at certain events have proved disappointing and problematic,” read a statement from the LGFA.

"This directive applies to all ages and all grades across the island, and also applies to all challenge games at club level. Club social centres/bars are also to close. Consequently, provincial club championship fixtures which had been scheduled for the coming weekend are postponed until further notice. We are exploring alternative dates for these games.

"Training will continue to be permitted as per the guidelines outlined for the relevant levels in the government's National Framework for Living with Covid 19 and relevant guidelines in the six counties.

"The LGFA will continue to monitor the situation in the coming days and weeks, regarding changes in government guidelines, before liaising with our units accordingly.

"The LGFA would also like to acknowledge all of those units who have worked diligently in complying with the public health advice around the staging of our games and training sessions since activity resumed.

"More than ever, we ask that you continue with this approach where training sessions for your players is continuing."