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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Gavin Quinn

Ireland opening phases: When will games of five-a-side, kick arounds and going for pucks be allowed again?

After the government last week unveiled the roadmap to reopening Ireland and restarting sport - many are wondering at what stages they can engage in sports with friends.

People will be wondering when their weekly five-a-side with pals can return, or a simple puck-around or kick-around with friends.

With the plan being to resume non-contact sporting activity in stages before slowly introducing contact sports, we face a long road to normality.

But all the proposed dates are subject to change and if the government feel that conditions aren't where they need to be - phases may be delayed.

Here's where we stand with some of those burning questions.

Kick-Arounds

The first stage of the loosening of measures will see pitches, tennis courts and golf clubs allowed to open, provided that social distancing can be maintained.

And while ensuring that there is no contact between people, a maximum group of four people from different households having a kick-about should be OK from May 18.

Puck arounds

General view of a hurl and sliotar (Stock pic) (Inpho)

Similar to football, picking up a hurl and sliotar to meet friends for a puck around is also okay from May 18 - while maintaining social distancing and ensuring there's no contact.

Five-a-side

Unlike a leisurely kick around, a full-contact five-a-side match won't be allowed until a little further down the line.

In phase four (July 20), partial contact sports matches can return. Meaning that it's not likely that five-a-side football or any form of match conditions can return until then.

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