GAA clubs in Northern Ireland are set to resume training well before those in the south after Tuesday's announcement by the NI Executive.
From Monday, April 12, sports clubs will be able to train outdoors in groups of 15 in the six counties though the decision is not relevant to inter-county activity, which still enjoys an exemption as an elite sport.
As such, inter-county training could resume in the north at any time with the GAA’s say-so but, with the elite exemption having been withdrawn by the Irish Government last month, the GAA must bide its time amid optimism that it will be restored when the latest raft of restrictions end on Monday, April 5.
Should inter-county training resume across the board from that week it would allow competitive games to take place from the weekend of May 1/2, with the GAA providing for a four-week run-in.
However, with the Covid-19 vaccine rollout progressing slowly in the south, it will likely be May at the earliest before GAA clubs can finally resume training, by which time their counterparts in the north should be well up and running.
A statement from Ulster GAA read: “The NI Executive have announced that sports training for affiliated clubs may resume outdoors in groups of up to 15 people from Monday 12 April, subject to Executive ratification the previous week.
“GAA clubs in the north must stress to their players and management teams that 12 April is the earliest date that they may be permitted to resume activity.
“The GAA’s Covid Advisory Group will consider this development and will in the coming period issue updated guidance to all units of the Association.
“In the meantime, it is important that all our units continue to abide by both Government and GAA guidelines. To this end it is worth re-stating that all GAA pitches and indoor facilities remain closed at present.”
