The news this week for GAA in the North took a positive step with groups of up to 15 players allowed to train together from April 12.
Players and supporters up and down the country will be hoping that the day isn't far away when games can again be played.
Former AFL star Conor McKenna made a major impact on his return to Tyrone colours in 2020 and he is hoping to build on that in the season ahead.
''The AFL season began last weekend but that is something that I’m not worried about any more as I’m just looking forward to get back playing gaelic,'' said McKenna.
''The last two or three months have been hard having to train by ourselves and doing Zoom calls and keeping in touch that way but just can’t wait to get back into the swing of things and hopefully that will be the 12th (April).
''Each player is different but I’m not a big fan of training by myself.
''I probably thrive off training with other players so getting used to that is a bit difficult at the minute but now that we have a date and a goal to aim towards there is more purpose I suppose.”
Coming back home has also given McKenna the opportunity to rekindle his love for another sport, horse racing, something that he has been interested in as long as he can remember.
“Thankfully the horse racing is still going ahead,'' said McKenna.
“My Da trains a few and six weeks ago I became an owner myself when I bought my own horse and got back into a bit of horse riding and training myself.
''The horse has ran twice now in Dundalk this last two weeks coming ninth the first time and fourth last time out so hopefully it will win a race soon.
''It's something that I really enjoy and I take the horse for a ride every morning before I come to work so to see it progress like that and do well in races is very rewarding.”
The Eglish man has settled back at home and recently commenced a new career when he joined forces with Tyrone-based CCTV firm Metro Surveillance.
The Cookstown company operate both nationally and further afield in the design, installation and monitoring of security systems and recently secured contracts for a number of high-profile sporting venues.
“When I first came home I was working in my Da’s own business for a couple of months and then I decided about a month ago to look for something else,” said McKenna.
“I got talking to Metro and they were very good to me and looked after me so it’s something that I’m looking forward to and building for the future and getting stuck into it.
''It’s very interesting to go to GAA grounds and get a different aspect to it as I would normally be playing on those pitches.
''I went around those venues with a couple of the Engineers from work looking and pricing cameras for different areas of the grounds and it was interesting to see what way it works as I normally focus on the pitch but now it’s a bit of both.''
John Coyle is CEO of Metro Surveillance, and is delighted to have the Tyrone GAA star on board.
''As you can imagine, in here there is a lot of football talk, a lot of banter and Conor enjoys the craic but also brings a professional and conscientious approach to everything he does both at work and on the sporting field,'' said Coyle.
''It’s very important for our company to be involved with GAA.
''Metro has a close affinity with the association, we continue to sponsor several clubs, our workforce is drawn from plenty of clubs in the locality, even crossing county boundaries, so local derbies are always interesting.
''Working alongside various county boards can only enhance Metro’s profile.''
