Offaly will not play Christy Ring Cup opener after Covid cases in camp

In a statement, the Faithful's county board apologised to the Lilywhites for the late notice and said that had they enough players, they would have played with a depleted panel

With a postponement of the game not possible, a walkover will almost certainly be handed to Kildare.

The Offaly hurlers tonight handed Kildare a walkover in the Christy Ring Cup after 25-plus players were deemed to be close contacts of a single positive case from within the panel.

Michael Fennelly’s side were due to play Kildare on Saturday, but an Offaly County Board statement last night said they would not be able to field “with over 25 players ruled out”.

The statement appears to indicate Offaly did not seek a postponement, rather the Faithful County accepted their fate that they were not in a position to fulfill the fixture.

The Covid positive player tested positive for the virus on Wednesday of this week, having not trained with the panel since October 13. The HSE, according to the Offaly statement, subsequently deemed “almost every member of the Offaly panel as a close contact of the player" and these panellists are therefore obliged to restrict their movements for a 14-day period up to October 27.

“Offaly GAA County Board officers have liaised with GAA officials in Croke Park since this issue arose on Wednesday afternoon. Our preferred option was for a postponement of the game, but we understand that this course of action is not possible as all GAA Championships must be completed in a short timeframe.

“We hope to participate in the second round of the Christy Ring Cup on the weekend of 7th/ 8th November, when the players who are restricting their movements will hopefully be available. They are currently availing of the GAA’s rapid testing facility.

“Offaly GAA wish to stress that we would be prepared to participate in Saturday’s game with a depleted squad. However, it is simply not feasible with over 25 players ruled out.

“We also wish to emphasise that the County Board, team management, players and backroom staff have followed HSE and GAA guidelines in relation to Covid-19 at all times, and had expected that the panel members would have been deemed ‘casual contacts’ rather than ‘close contacts’ of the one player with Covid-19.”

Offaly’s forced concession was the second walkover of the day after Waterford’s footballers served notice that they would not be fulfilling their Division 4 league fixture away to Antrim on Saturday. The two points awarded to Antrim as a result of Waterford’s forfeit moves them to the top of the Division 4 table.

In a lengthy statement issued this morning, the Déise management explained their request for the game to be moved from Portglenone, just outside Ballymena, to a neutral venue was rejected.

The statement read: “The decision was reached following the withdrawal of a number of the panel members due to: The personal family circumstances of some of the players, leading to concerns and reservations within the playing group of traveling to the Belfast area. These personal circumstances must be respected. Further, the reservations of spending a night in a hotel, coupled with the risk associated with the general exposure relating to the 24-hour period; The employers of several players and members of the team management stipulating that a 14-day isolation period would be required on returning from Northern Ireland.

“Serious consideration was given to these two major factors along with the possibility of any incidence of Coronavirus transmission to any of our travelling playing group with a turnaround time of seven days to the Munster championship.”

However, late this evening, Antrim GAA tweeted to say they had offered to move the game to Dundalk.

"We believe that the integrity of the league needs to be upheld," they said.

"If we are good enough to collect (two points) we will do it in a fair and manly manner on the field of play."

Meanwhile, Antrim's hurlers have announced that one of their players has tested positive for Covid-19 after feeling unwell earlier this week.

The player had three close contacts identified - two of which tested positive for the virus.

Further testing revealed two more players have tested positive.  

"On Tuesday, Antrim GAA and Croke Park implemented the rapid testing system protocol for all the remaining personnel who attended Sunday’s (National League) Final in Tullamore," an Antrim GAA statement said. "Test results have now been returned with two more players and one back-room staff testing positive, we wish these individuals a speedy recovery."

The Saffrons added that despite having a depleted squad, they are looking forward to their Joe McDonagh Cup opener against tournament favourites Westmeath.