County sees the complete shutdown of sporting activity as COVID-19 crisis escalates

THE outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus, which continues to be a major health threat to the entire country, has led to a complete suspension of sporting activity – from organised team competitions and collective training right down to all categories of communal sport and leisure activity – as the health authorities and government continue to try to contain the spread of the virus.

The policy of ‘social distancing’ – the practice of minimising direct physical contact between people, and of having individuals maintain an appropriate distance apart to stop the spread of the virus – has meant an end of mass gatherings for at least two weeks, and that, in turn, has seen all sporting activities come to a complete halt.

Towards the end of last week national sporting organisations, like the GAA, the FAI and the IRFU cancelled all competitive games and fixtures, with local units quickly following suit by suspending all competitive and communal fixtures for two weeks to run until March 29.

Further to that, stricter ‘social distancing’ directives from the Health Service Executive and the Department of Health has led to a complete cessation of team training, with the GAA calling on every club and member to strictly adhere to its guidelines on the matter.

For Kerry it meant last Sunday’s NFL Division 1 match against Monaghan was postponed, as was the hurlers’ Division 2A final against Antrim, scheduled for Sunday in Croke Park. The All-Ireland Under-20 Football semi-final between Kerry and Galway, due to take place yesterday (Tuesday) in Croke Park was also called off.

At club level the second round of the county senior football leagues, fixed for last weekend, were postponed, as was every other GAA fixture and activity since Saturday.

The Kerry District Soccer League has also shut down all its playing activity, as has the Kerry Schoolboys and Schoolgirls League. Everything from rugby and basketball, to athletics and motorsport, has been postponed until at least March 29.

Golf and greyhound racing are about the only sports still being enjoyed in the county at present. Due to the outdoor and relatively solitary nature of golf, the game can continue to be played, but the GUI and LGUI have issued strict protocols on social distancing in accordance with the HSE guidelines.

Greyhound racing is continuing at the Kingdom Greyhound Stadium, but again in accordance with social distancing guidelines, which include no access for the public to the Stadium, and only one handler per dog allowed into the racetrack.

As it stands the suspension of all sporting activity will remain in place until Sunday, March 29, at which stage – in theory at least – there will be an easing of the social distancing policy and a return to some sort of sport and games. The reality, alas, is that it could be many weeks before the COVID-19 crisis comes under sufficient control to allow a return to normality, which means our playing fields and sports halls could remain empty and quiet for quite some time yet.