The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture say that any decision on whether underage championship games can continue during new Level 5 Covid-19 restrictions “is still being clarified”.
Earlier a Government spokesperson told RTÉ News that only senior games could go ahead and nothing else.
However, RTÉ Political Correspondent Paul Cunningham has confirmed in a tweet that no firm decision has yet been made with regard to the staging of Under-20 and minor fixtures when the country again enters Level 5 restrictions from midnight tonight.
New – comment from Dept of Sport re only GAA senior inter-county games allowed to proceed during new Level 5 #Covid19 restrictions: “The government decision of Monday has resulted in many changes, including in sport. The matter is still being clarified.” @rtenews
— Paul Cunningham (@RTENewsPaulC) October 21, 2020
RTÉ Sport understands GAA officials in Croke Park are planning to discuss the latest developments at a meeting later this morning and to seek further clarification from the Government.
The All-Ireland U-20 football final between Dublin and Galway will not be played this Saturday, with a press conference scheduled this morning with the two managers postponed.
Galway county board chairman Pat Kearney told Galway Bay FM they had received confirmation from Croke Park this morning that the match was postponed.
Any suspension of underage games will no doubt come as the disappointment to the association following the commencement of the Munster U20 hurling championship on Monday, where Cork and Tipperary advanced to the semi-finals.
Three scheduled games in the grade are due to take place this evening in the Leinster championship, just hours out from the beginning of the new restrictions.
Under the new exceptions list, published on the government’s website this week, it states: “No training or matches should take place, with the exception of inter-county Gaelic games.”
It would appear the GAA viewed this as allowing both underage and senior inter-county action to continue.
Meanwhile Cork county board have confirmed that no further club finals will take place this year, with the games rescheduled for the first weekend of March next year. The U21 championship will not be held.
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