Football

Covid outbreak could force Tyrone to seek postponement of Kerry All-Ireland semi-final clash

Frank Burns is recovering from Covid-19 but could feature in the All-Ireland semi-final if it is pushed back by a week. Picture Margaret McLaughlin.
Frank Burns is recovering from Covid-19 but could feature in the All-Ireland semi-final if it is pushed back by a week. Picture Margaret McLaughlin. Frank Burns is recovering from Covid-19 but could feature in the All-Ireland semi-final if it is pushed back by a week. Picture Margaret McLaughlin.

A SECOND wave of positive Covid-19 tests in the Tyrone squad could force the GAA to postpone Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final against Kerry by a week.

The Croke Park clash was scheduled for next Sunday (August 15) but Tyrone could seek to push it back to August 22nd if a host of suspected cases are confirmed. According to reports, 11 squad members have tested positive or are isolating as close contacts.

The virus had ruled joint manager Feargal Logan and players Tiernan McCann, Frank Burns and Rory Brennan out of the Ulster final win against Monaghan.

A statement from the Tyrone County Board said that a decision on whether to seek a postponement would be made today.

“Further to a number of positive Covid19 tests with members of the Tyrone senior football panel and management, prior to last weekend’s successful Ulster Championship final in Croke Park, it was decided to have all panellists and management tested for the virus,” read the statement.

“While outcomes from these tests are awaited a number of players are self-isolating; it is anticipated that all outcomes will be known by Monday and preparations can then be made for the forthcoming All-Ireland semi-final with Kerry.”

Whenever the match is played, Kerry manager Peter Keane is expecting the Ulster champions to “raise the bar” on what they have produced so far this season. Tyrone dethroned reigning Ulster champions Cavan in their Ulster Championship opener before knocking out a fancied Donegal side at the semi-final stage.

A productive first half was enough to see the Red Hands over the line against Monaghan in the Anglo-Celt decider at Croke Park. Tyrone led by five points at the interval and were able to withstand a determined Monaghan second half fightback to win the provincial title for the first time since 2017.

“Absolutely, no question about it,” said the Kerry manager when asked if he expected another level from Tyrone in the All-Ireland semi-final.

“There are two teams going at it and it’ll be a very tight affair. We played them in the 2018 semi-final and we were four points down at half-time and managed to get our noses over the line at the end of it.

“We had them up at Edendork in the National League last year and lost by a point. So I’m not expecting, and the team aren’t expecting, anything other than a very tight game. I think the bar will be raised and raised very high.”

Offensively, there should be better to come from Tyrone. Darren McCurry, Cathal McShane, Mark Bradley and Conor McKenna all gave glimpses of their ability but they will need to sustain that form from first whistle to last if they are to post a score that will challenge a Kerry side laden with attacking talent.

“They had an excellent first half against Monaghan - they kicked 11 points and if you put another 11 scores with that in the second half you’ve a match-winning total,” said Keane.

“They have some very, very good players. McShane got a half-an-hour of football into him last weekend, Daire Canavan was back on the field as well after his unfortunate injury. Kieran McGeary performed well and so did Conor McKenna. So they have plenty of talent, there’s no question about that.”

The Tyrone forwards will have to take a high percentage of their chances and the defence will have to find a way to keep a lid on a Kingdom’s attacking unit that scored 6-15 against them in the NFL in June.

“I don’t think the score was reflective of the game,” said Keane.

“If you took the goals out of I wouldn’t have felt there was a whole pile in it. We aren’t getting carried away with that result.”