Kerry chairman Tim Murphy has conceded that the GAA had no option but to postpone Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final against Tyrone.
The game will now be played on Saturday, August 21, on the same weekend as the All-Ireland hurling final, after a number of Covid-19 cases in the Tyrone camp left them unable to fulfil the fixture this weekend.
As a result, the All-Ireland football final will now be played six days later than scheduled on Saturday, September 4, the date that had been set aside for a replay if required and the day before the senior ladies football final.
There has been no comment from Tyrone on the matter as yet though while they have reported a high number of positive tests, it is believed to be fewer than 20 and that some of those concerned will be in a position to return to training later this week.
Speaking on Radio Kerry’s Terrace Talk show, Murphy acknowledged that the postponement was a “disappointment” but admitted that “in the circumstances, I think it’s the most pragmatic decision that could have been made”.
He said: “From a player’s and management perspective, all your preparations were geared towards the game next Sunday.
“Likewise for supporters, travel arrangements, booking accommodation, etcetera, but in an overall scale, the situation in Tyrone was of such a scale that I don’t think the GAA, to be fair, had any option but to offer a postponement because they literally would not have been able to fulfil the fixture if it hadn’t been the case.”
A two-week postponement would have been more desirable for Tyrone given the disruption that has been caused to their preparations but it was never going to be a runner.
The postponement means that Kerry will have endured a four-week lay-off since their Munster final win over Cork by the time the semi-final comes around and Murphy confirmed that if they were to reach next month’s deferred All-Ireland final, the local club championships would have to be pushed back by a week.
The 24,000 capacity that had been set for next Sunday stays in place, with the Offaly-Roscommon under-20 final remaining on the bill with a 1.30pm throw-in while the Cork-Meath senior ladies semi-final has been shifted from Tuam to Croke Park and will throw-in at 3.30pm. Both games will be broadcast live on TG4.
The GAA said in a statement that it will “continue to liaise with the appropriate Government Departments and officials to discuss the practicalities of having these revised fixtures included under the statutory instrument that has facilitated the increased attendances of recent weeks”.
