Tyrone v Kerry SFC semi rescheduled amid covid outbreak
The All-Ireland semi has been put off by one week.
BY FRANCIS MOONEY
The Tyrone v Kerry All-Ireland semi-final, due to take place this Saturday, has been postponed after Covid chaos ripped through the Red Hand camp.
Confirmation that the GAA has acceded to a Tyrone request for a deferment of the fixture came this afternoon, along with details of the re-fixture, which will take place a week later, on Saturday August 21, at Croke Park.
It’s understood that up to 20 members of the Tyrone set-up have tested positive for the virus, with several others forced to self-isolate as close contacts of confirmed cases.
This is the second successive game involving Tyrone that has been impacted by the pandemic.
A number of their players missed the Ulster final, while joint manager Feargal Logan was also forced to remain at home while his side took on Monaghan in the provincial decider.
Croke Park officials have been in regular contact with the Tyrone county board over the past number of days to monitor an evolving but uncertain situation.
GAA chiefs made it clear from an early stage that they would not resist aby request from Tyrone for a deferment of the fixture.
All the players underwent Covid-19 tests over the weekend, and following receipt of the results yesterday (Mon), it was confirmed that Tyrone would not be in a position to fulfil the fixture on the scheduled date.
While the postponement has accommodated Tyrone and made it possible to go ahead despite the challenging circumstances, the saga has severely impacted their chances of making it to the All-Ireland final.
With training and other preparatory work significantly curtailed since the Ulster final win over Monaghan, making up for lost time in getting the squad ready to meet a formidable Kerry team will be challenging.
Kerry manager Peter Keane had confirmed that he had a fully fit squad for this weekend’s eagerly awaited semi-final, and the news that it will not go ahead on the designated date will be a big disappointment to the Munster champions and their supporters.
The seriousness of the situation became apparent at the weekend when it was revealed that several members of the squad were self-isolating due to a number of positive Covid-19 cases within the Tyrone camp.
Croke Park were already aware of the issues affecting the Red Hands at that stage, but were awaiting the results of tests.
The county board issued a statement on Saturday confirming that measures had been taken.
“Further to a number of positive Covid19 tests with members of the Tyrone senior football panel and management, prior to last weekend’s successful Ulster Championship final in Croke Park, it was decided to have all panellists and management tested for the virus,” said the statement.
“While outcomes from these tests are awaited a number of players are self-isolating; it is anticipated that all outcomes will be known by Monday and preparations can then be made for the forthcoming All-Ireland semi final with Kerry.
“During the past week Tyrone GAA has continued to comply, fully, with the guidelines and directives that have been issued by the Public Health Authority and by Croke Park.”
A number of players, along with joint manager Feargal Logan, were forced to miss the Ulster Senior Football Championship final against Monaghan ten days ago, but the situation in the camp worsened during the following week.
Logan kept in contact with co-manager Brian Dooher from home throughout the game, which resulted in a one point win for the Red Hands.
The GAA was constantly monitoring the situation in Tyrone, in the knowledge that some flexibility was possible as regards accommodating a postponement and a date for the re-fixture.
With the All-Ireland football final scheduled for August 29, the day before the All-Ireland hurling final, Saturday August 21, offered an opportunity for a rescheduling of the Tyrone v Kerry semi-final.
The GAA’s Central Competitions Control Committee recently allocated a new date to the U20 All-Ireland hurling final after the entire Cork camp were deemed close contacts.
The game was due to take place last Saturday, but has now been refixed for Tuesday August 17.