Tyrone v Kerry - All-Ireland SF 2021

[Rossfan]

Walkover for Kerry?

https://m.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/tyrone-have-fresh-doubts-over-new-all-ireland-semi-final-date-40734708.html

[GalwayBayBoy]

The Tyrone county board have stated that they may be forced to withdraw from the All-Ireland championship due to concerns over player welfare.

The semi-final against Kerry has been put back for a week because of a number of Covid-19 cases within the Red Hand squad.

But Tyrone officials have warned that not enough time has been allowed for recovery and return to play.

County chairman Michael Kerr revealed that a request for a two-week postponement until the weekend of August 28/29 was turned down by Croke Park officials.

The clash with the Munster champions was originally scheduled for this Sunday, but has now been re-fixed for Saturday 21 August.

"This is about player welfare, and it's clear that our players will not be ready to engage in a high intensity championship game so soon after being directly affected by this virus," said Kerr.

He added that Tyrone may not be in a position to field a team for the eagerly-awaited clash with the Kingdom.

Kerr said a difficult decision will have to be taken, which could lead to a withdrawal from the All-Ireland series, and a bye to the final for Kerry.

"The welfare of the players is paramount. The management will not be making a decision until this weekend on whether we will be capable of fulfilling the fixture."

"We are grateful to have the opportunity to be able to field, but by the same token, disappointed that Croke Park have not given us sufficient time to prepare a proper challenge for Kerry."

Carrickmore clubman Kerr questioned Croke Park's position on limiting the postponement to one week.

"They have decided that the final should be pushed no further back than Saturday 4th of September, but if something similar was to happen in the meantime to any of the two panels competing in the final, that date would disappear into the twilight as well.

"While we appreciate the postponement, which now allows us to be able to field a team, our request to have the match put back until the following weekend would have allowed us to be able to field a team that would be properly prepared and be in a position to do itself justice in an All-Ireland semi-final.

"We are grateful to have the opportunity to be able to field, but by the same token, disappointed that Croke Park have not given us sufficient time to prepare a proper challenge for Kerry.

"We are also conscious of the fact that the situation is not an ideal one for Kerry, and the uncertainty creates difficulties for their preparations for this important game."

Meanwhile Kerry aired their "disappointment" at the decision to postpone the clash but accepted it was the right call.

"Today's announcement to postpone the Kerry v Tyrone semi-final is a disappointment to us all," said Kerry GAA chairman Tim Murphy.

"We are fully aware of the many Kerry supporters who had made plans to travel to Croke Park for Sunday's game.

"Notwithstanding this however we acknowledge that at we are all living in very challenging times and Covid continues to circulate in our communities necessitating the decision by the National CCCC to push the fixture out by six days."

Tyrone confirmed last weekend that "a number of players are self-isolating" as they awaited Covid-19 test results.

"Further to a number of positive Covid-19 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," it read.

"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 and co-manager Feargal Logan missed the Ulster final win over Monaghan for Covid-related reasons.

[armaghniac]

If Tyrone has a rake of players actually with Covid then you couldn't be waiting for them, some of the players could be banjaxed for weeks.  The deferment was designed to facilitate players required to isolate as contacts but who do not turn out to have Covid.

[Captain Obvious]

Monaghan to re-enter the championship?

[trueblue1234]

How did the Ulster Final go ahead if Tyrone were aware they had squad members exposed to COVID?

They had members not in the match day squad.
They had management not involved on the day.
They followed the rules required.
How did you miss this? It was discussed In depth by most people who had a passing interest in the game.

[Eire90]

we might get a saturday final which is good dont play it later than 5pm tho

[viperhiggins]

So did Tyrone players celebrate after winning ulster? If they did then they are to blame themselves for outbreak.
Why if knowing there was covid in camp did they all not get tested in days leading up to ulster final? Was this to avoid any more missing game? If so likely some were playing with covid! The explosion of cases could have possibly been prevented if proper test and tracing was done at start. Not 2 weeks nearly later!

They went straight home after the game..no celebrating done.  No one with covid played in the Ulster Final. There was proper test and tracing done.

Completely false statement. Some out and about drinking after.

[quit yo jibbajabba]

I hope you can back this up IN A COURT OF LAW viper. Under Lights will be in touch soon

[Hound]

we might get a saturday final which is good dont play it later than 5pm tho

Gardai will have final say in that I presume. 5pm is the ideal time, but soccer team are already fixed to be playing a World Cup qualifier at 5pm in the Aviva. So likely either 3pm or 7pm. Will the Gardai request the earlier I wonder ?

I wonder would they revert back to the original date if Tyrone pull out.

[Armagh18]

So did Tyrone players celebrate after winning ulster? If they did then they are to blame themselves for outbreak.
Why if knowing there was covid in camp did they all not get tested in days leading up to ulster final? Was this to avoid any more missing game? If so likely some were playing with covid! The explosion of cases could have possibly been prevented if proper test and tracing was done at start. Not 2 weeks nearly later!

They went straight home after the game..no celebrating done.  No one with covid played in the Ulster Final. There was proper test and tracing done.

some craic you's Tyrone huers....

[Armagh18]

So did Tyrone players celebrate after winning ulster? If they did then they are to blame themselves for outbreak.
Why if knowing there was covid in camp did they all not get tested in days leading up to ulster final? Was this to avoid any more missing game? If so likely some were playing with covid! The explosion of cases could have possibly been prevented if proper test and tracing was done at start. Not 2 weeks nearly later!

They went straight home after the game..no celebrating done.  No one with covid played in the Ulster Final. There was proper test and tracing done.

Completely false statement. Some out and about drinking after.

Oh no. Lock them up...

[viperhiggins]

So did Tyrone players celebrate after winning ulster? If they did then they are to blame themselves for outbreak.
Why if knowing there was covid in camp did they all not get tested in days leading up to ulster final? Was this to avoid any more missing game? If so likely some were playing with covid! The explosion of cases could have possibly been prevented if proper test and tracing was done at start. Not 2 weeks nearly later!

They went straight home after the game..no celebrating done.  No one with covid played in the Ulster Final. There was proper test and tracing done.

Completely false statement. Some out and about drinking after.

Oh no. Lock them up...

Nothing wrong with a drink they are are just right. Just no point people on here saying they went straight home after the game - who are they trying to fool?

[seafoid]

https://www.ft.com/content/ff63cd68-7281-4340-b1b6-5db3d891eaff

In the UK almost 38 per cent of people who contract Covid-19 are still dealing with one or more symptoms 12 weeks later, according to the React study undertaken by London's Imperial College.

[Itchy]

I am glad to see the GAA has improved their approach to COVID outbreaks and evolved from kicking Sligo out of the championship last year for being unable to field a team. I am sure this is a natural evolution of thought and not because Sligo are Div 4 no hopers and Kerry are big dogs and the perceived main challengers to Dublin.

[RedHand88]

I forsee a Newbridge or nowhere type scenario rumbling.