The GAA has announced that all weekend fixtures can go ahead as planned despite yesterday’s confirmed case of foot-and-mouth in Co Louth.
The news will come as a huge relief to the GAA’s Games Administration Committee who had devised a new fixture schedule to accommodate outstanding fixtures postponed amid the initial foot-and-mouth scare.
Yesterday’s news of the Co Louth case had put all Gaelic Games fixtures in serious doubt but after consulting with the Department of Agriculture the GAA deemed that all games planned for this weekend could go ahead.
Sigerson Cup matches and the heavily postponed Offaly senior hurling final between Birr v Seir Kieran will feature prominently among the weekend’s action.
"At the moment, nothing is called off," said GAC Chairman, Padraig Duffy. "The games that were fixed for this weekend, including the Sigerson, are going ahead. There is no reason at this stage to call them off."
However, there will be no matches played in Co Louth. GAA officials in the county announced a ban on all club and inter-county activities until they are given the all-clear by the Government.
Speculation is mounting surrounding Louth’s immediate future in Division 1A of the NFL and their NHL Division 2 participation.Louth are due to play Longford in the championship on May 6th.
Initial fears that the GAA would be forced to abandon the National League competitions are becoming less likely providing, however, there are no more positive cases of foot-and-mouth.
Central Council officials will meet in the next few days to discuss the feasibility of resuming the league campaigns the following weekend.
Round seven of the NHL and the delayed Division 1A football league game between Kerry and Dublin are scheduled for play on April 1st.
The NFL and NHL will double up on Sunday April 8th. Round 4 of the NHL and Round 6 of the NFL are due to be played.
The All-Ireland Club football final between Nemo Rangers and Crossmolina - originally scheduled for St Patrick’s Day - is rescheduled for Monday, 16th April.
The rescheduled All-Ireland club hurling semi-final replay between Sixmilebridge and Graigue-Ballycallan is on March 31st in Thurles.