The GAA found themselves in a difficult situation after the covid outbreak in the Tyrone camp ahead of the All-Ireland football semi-final against Kerry.
It was clear the game could not go ahead on the date that was planned, with any potential delays have a big effect on what was supposed to be a split club and inter-county season. In the end, they opted to push both this game and the All-Ireland final back by one week.
However, such a move may do little to aid Tyrone.
The Ulster champions would essentially go into the match with a number of players having either just recovered from the virus or having gone a number of weeks without training.
As a result, they have decided against a fielding a team for next week's fixture, citing concerns over the welfare of players who have recently contracted the virus.
Tyrone have withdrawn from next week's All-Ireland semi-final against Kerry, citing concerns over the welfare of players who recently contracted covid.
They have previously asked the GAA to push the game back by another week. pic.twitter.com/FWsMbj3I2q— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) August 14, 2021
There will now be serious pressure on the GAA to push the fixture back by another week in order to make sure it is played, something many believe should have been done in the first place.
Seán Boylan could not believe that they were expected to play next week.
Speaking on RTÉ's The Championship Podcast, the former Meath manager, who had covid himself last year, said it was 'nonsensical' for the GAA to expect Tyrone to be able to perform as soon as next weekend.
It was the most frightening thing that ever happened to me in my life (getting covid).
I'd be an old man compared to these lads, but when you get somebody that gets Covid properly it nearly destroys the natural vitality of youth - it wrecks them.
Everybody thinks that they can go out in three or four days and play again - it's absolutely nonsensical.
Because they're good athletes I could see them recovering in 10 days but I couldn't see them recovering in four or five days - not a hope in hell.
I would have seen it with one of the Meath lads who got it last year, and how it affected him. When you go to Croke Park and you don't perform there's no point in saying, 'sure I had Covid'.
I know there's an argument that the club championships have to start but there's no reason why they couldn't start in the other 30 counties.
I'd rather be safe than sorry. I know if it was the lads that I was involved with down through the years and you were faced with it, yes you would go out [and play]. But you'd like to think that everybody would have a fair crack of the whip.
I've no vested interest in the blessed world here. I just want to see lads being able to do what they set out to do.
It certainly seems unfair to expect Tyrone to be able to perform to their best on the date that was given, although it is also a difficult situation for Kerry who have not played a game since July 25th.
It will be interesting to see where the GAA go with this, although pushing the game back by another week would seem to be the easiest solution.
You can't be handing out walkovers in an All-Ireland semi-final.
SEE ALSO: 'There Was Definite Needle': The Fierce And Always Fascinating Kerry-Tyrone Rivalry
