It’s the GAA Championship alright, but not as we know it.
The football provincial competitions exploded into life on day one with a dramatic Ulster derby win for Cavan over Monaghan on Saturday.
Clones would normally be heaving with supporters of the neighbours and big rivals but not in these extraordinary times.
Later, on Halloween night, there were fireworks on and off the pitch as Dublin almost pulled off a sensational comeback against Killkenny in hurling and pyrotechnics filled the night sky above a deserted Croke Park as Galway swatted Wexford aside.
Storm Aiden brought howling wind and rain on Sunday which left grim playing conditions all over the country.
Players have become accustomed to driving alone in cars to games and changing in the stands with the use of plastic storage containers as custom-made ‘lockers’.
The drive home after playing in atrocious weather with no showers and changing facilities after the game must be horrendous for players - certainly for those who were dumped out of the Championship on day one.
It’s a long winter ahead for some, but for others the next game is now only a week away and silverware will be raised within a fortnight for the lucky few.
The cavernous empty stands at Croke Park and Pairc Ui Chaoimh provide a bizarre backdrop for games that could normally draw crowds in excess of 50,000.
The atmosphere is severely lacking but TV cameras now cover games the length and breadth of the country through a host of sources and channels. One silver lining to the crisis has been the streaming of games into the homes and care facilities of the country, particularly for those who rarely get to see their own county in action.
Despite all the restrictions and guidelines, there are still a handful of fans who are going above and beyond - quite literally - to see their heroes in the flesh. Presumably all within 5km of their homes!
It is Championship after all.
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