THE GAA’S AWAITING IT’S FATE..

PEAK MCGRATH Down’s success in the 90s under Pete Mcgrath has been impossible to replicate ›› Down legend Pete Mcgrath will feature on the next episode of Laochra Gael on Thursday at 9.30pm on TG4

THE GAA is hoping to get the green light for the resumption of intercounty activity next month as the Irish cabinet meets today.

Some easing of the current Level 5 restrictions that run until next Monday is expected around outdoor activities, with a big push for juvenile sports training to be allowed in recent weeks, along with the restoration of the elite status exemption for intercounty teams.

Any further delay for the 2021 season could well have repercussions for the competition structures, with the GAA keen to run both a League and Championship programme in hurling and football.

Inter-county teams still enjoy an exemption in Northern Ireland, where club teams will be allowed to train on a limited basis from April 12.

That seems some way off for clubs in the south just now, though former Down, Fermanagh and Louth manager Pete Mcgrath doesn’t see the divergence as significant.

Mcgrath, who is currently managing his home club Rostrevor, said: “The fact in the Republic club teams aren’t going to be able to do that to the same extent, I don’t think it fractures or damages the perception or the reality of the GAA as a 32-county association.

“Given the times we are living in, given the situations we have found ourselves in these last 12 months are unprecedented in the lifetime of everyone currently living on the island, I don’t think it’s any big deal.”