Crowd size doubts

IT’S unclear as yet whether tight caps on attendances will remain in place at the opening round of Tyrone All-County League games on Sunday week, which as things stand falls a day before the GAA moves into Phase 4 of its timeline for a full resumption of all activities.

Phase 4 of the Irish Government plans, to which the GAA is aligning its roadmap, will allow for crowds of up to 500 including gates officials, players, backroom staff and spectators from Monday July 20th. Dressing rooms are also due to open from that date.

The opening round of ACL matches in the County are scheduled to go ahead on Sunday July 19th, which falls within Phase 3 enabling only a maximum of 200 people in attendance at grounds.

With club supporters deprived of their GAA fix following four months in hibernation, Eugene McConnell, the County PRO, knows there will be huge interest in the opening round programme of games, which will include heavyweight clashes like Dromore vs Omagh and Ardboe v Carrickmore.

The Clogher man expects some clarity from the GAA in advance of the return to action next weekend.

“That question has been asked of me (turnstiles open) and at the minute I haven’t seen a specific instruction around those complications, and access to grounds.

“If the safety measures are in place around social distancing and sanitation, people will try and work with it. We’ll adapt again as we have done.”

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