Kerry and Tyrone’s All-Ireland semi-final postponed

Sunday’s scheduled All-Ireland football semi-final between Kerry and Tyrone has been moved back to Saturday week August 21st because of a Covid outbreak on the Tyrone panel.

As a result, the All-Ireland final has been moved back six days to Saturday, September 4th. A statement from Croke Park on Monday afternoon confirmed the changed schedule

“The GAA’s CCCC has today confirmed that Sunday’s GAA football semi-final meeting of Kerry and Tyrone at Croke Park will not take place as originally scheduled and will now be played on Saturday, August 21st at the same venue (time to be confirmed).

“This decision was taken following a status report received by the GAA relating to positive Covid cases in the Tyrone panel.

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“This change will necessitate the GAA football All-Ireland final being re-arranged to take place on Saturday, September 4th.

“The GAA football under-20 final meeting of Offaly and Roscommon will proceed as planned at Croke Park at 1.30pm on Sunday with the same permitted attendance.”

Also on Saturday, September 4th Ireland take on Azerbaijan in a World Cup 2022 qualifier across the city at the Aviva Stadium. That kicks off at 5pm.

The GAA statement goes on to say that they will be in contact with the Government to discuss having the revised fixtures accommodated “under the statutory instrument that has facilitated the increased attendances of recent weeks.”

There will also be discussions with Cumann Peil na mBan about the women’s junior final, which is scheduled to take place in Croke Park on September 4th.

The Ulster champions Tyrone had announced on Saturday that “a number of players” (reportedly 11) were self-isolating pending the results of Covid-19 tests.

There were a number of withdrawals before the Ulster final win over Monaghan a week previously and the county said it had decided to have all panellists and management tested for Covid.

Joint manager Feargal Logan was unable to attend the match as were players Rory Brennan, Frank Burns, Richie Donnelly and Tiernan McCann.

In the light of media reports of further cases and speculation about a possible threat to the All-Ireland semi-final at the end of last week, Tyrone GAA released a statement confirming that members of the playing panel and mentors have been tested.

“While outcomes from these tests are awaited a number of players are self-isolating; it is anticipated that all outcomes will be known by Monday and preparations can then be made for the forthcoming All-Ireland semi final with Kerry,” the statement read.

“During the past week Tyrone GAA has continued to comply, fully, with the guidelines and directives that have been issued by the Public Health Authority and by Croke Park.”

Regulations provide for the playing of All-Ireland semi-finals and finals involving teams unable to field because of Covid - as was the case with the Cork under-20 hurlers whose All-Ireland final against Galway has been deferred from this Saturday until Tuesday week August 17th.