Football

Armagh lock down all club activity and senior team suspends collective training due to Covid-19 spike

Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney has been forced to suspend collective team training because of the Covid-19 spike. Picture by Philip Walsh.
Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney has been forced to suspend collective team training because of the Covid-19 spike. Picture by Philip Walsh. Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney has been forced to suspend collective team training because of the Covid-19 spike. Picture by Philip Walsh.

ALL club activity in Armagh has been locked down, at least for this weekend, due to a Covid-19 spike in the county.

Games and training, at all levels, will be postponed and social clubs closed after a Covid-19 outbreak which has also forced the Armagh senior team training to suspend collective training.

According to reports, six players from the Orchard County squad have tested positive for the virus and the county board released a statement yesterday confirming that collective training had been called off as "a precautionary measure".

It is understood that training could resume next week, at least in smaller groups, and that these developments stem from an outbreak of the virus in the Forkhill club in the aftermath of their Junior Football Championship replay win over Belleeks last weekend.

“Following a recent outbreak in a local club, the Armagh senior football team has a number of confirmed positive results for Covid-19," read the Armagh statement.

"We are strictly following the GAA and public health advice and as a precautionary measure we have postponed collective training.

“These are difficult times for our communities and Armagh GAA urge all members to follow the public health guidelines.”

Of course, the health of the players, the management and their families is most important but these developments have serious implications for Armagh in a sporting context.

The Orchardmen resume their Division Two campaign against Roscommon on October 17 and were due to complete their fixtures against Clare the following weekend.

Kieran McGeeney's side are currently top of the table and, at full strength, would be fancied to win both games and clinch promotion to Division One after an absence of eight years.

But this development throws all that into doubt. Even if they are not showing symptoms, the infected players will need to quarantine for at least 10 days, putting their involvement in the Roscommon match in doubt. Defeat in that game could leave Armagh facing a difficult trip to Ennis needing to win and hoping other results go their way for them to claim a place in the top flight next year.