Attention to detail regarding hygiene was superb.. keep this up & we might just get through this

THE decision to proceed with our inter-county games was a brave but fair decision.

I’m delighted. Yes, there are risks of course, and there are many people who disagree. But l believe the benefits outweigh the negatives.

I ful ly re sp ect tho se who think differently – and that number is growing at an alarming rate.

And if you look at what’s happened in Antrim, Wat er ford , O f faly and Roscommon this week, at this moment in time I’m not actually sure if we’ll see the Championship reach a conclusion.

From the time I arrived at the Athletic Grounds in Armagh last Saturday until the time I left, adherence to all the guidelines was exemplary.

The attention to detail regarding hygiene was superb and the officials were simply incredible with their genuine care.

That attention to detail went from use of sanitisers and masks to the space afforded to journalists and commentators and to the fact that th e game didn’t start until the subs were all sitting the necessary distance apart in the stand.

They couldn’t do enough to make everyone feel so safe the whole evening. It was run splendidly and everyone was on the same wavelength.

After attending one and watching five others games in full at the weekend, the same practices were evident in all the grounds.

So l genuinely believe this can all be done safely once the players are tested weekly and on time. Their safety must be the GAA’S number one priority.

The Connacht Championship may be the most i nteresting provincial championship of all.

I watched Roscommon and was very impressed with the way they were set up. Their defence was magnificent and was the launchpad for victory with Brian Stack and the Dalys to the fore.

Anthony Cunningham is doing a really good j ob. Roscommon have a great structure in defence, a meanness and a steely look about them which I like – that old trait of throwing in the towel is eroding fast.

Their strong bench spoke volumes for their strength and depth.

Most importantly, there seems to be a real sense of collective unity to be in it for the long haul that I haven’t seen in Roscommon before.

Anyone who thinks Mayo will have it all their own way in the championship in the Hyde is in for a shock!

The couldn’t have done more to make people feel so safe