June restart for club games

By Shane Brophy

With the Government announcing the further easing of restrictions last week, sporting organisations can make more definitive plans for the months ahead, particularly in terms of competitive action returning.

From Monday next, 10th May, all outdoor training for teams can resume in pods of fifteen initially, while from Monday 7th June, all matches can resume, which means the weekend of 12-13 June should see action on the playing fields.

GAA

In terms of GAA, Tipperary County Board are unlikely to hang around with their return to play, as they have a number of championships outstanding from 2020.

Both Under 21 ‘A’ (Grangemockler/Ballyneale v Arravale Rovers) & ‘B’ (Upperchurch/Drombane v Ballina) football finals could get the action underway.

Both ‘A’ finalists are also involved in the Junior ‘A’ hurling championship which is three rounds from home in the race to be promoted to the intermediate grade. Firstly, Grangemockler/Ballyneale have a South final to play against Carrick Swans, with the winner to face Holycross/Ballycahill in the county semi-finals while Arravale Rovers already know they will be playing Toomevara in the other last four clash.

Mark O’Meara of Grangemockler/Ballyneale is the only player from any of the competing clubs on a senior inter-county panel with the footballers and is very much in the developmental stage so there is a strong likelihood the concluding stages which would take just three weekends could be played off relatively quickly ahead of the 2021 campaign.

In junior ‘B’ hurling, Silvermines and Gortnahoe/Glengoole are already through to the county semi-finals as North and Mid champions respectively, awaiting the outcomes in the West where they only at the semi-final stage and the South were only still at the group stage.

For the senior and intermediate clubs, the County Leagues should get underway in June with reduced formats, possibly of three matches per code ahead of semi-finals and finals which should take clubs up to the end of July/early August, by which time the club championships could begin, depending on Tipperary’s progress in the inter-county championships.

CAMOGIE

Of the three major Gaelic Games organisations last year, Camogie were the only ones to plan to play a full club championship as normal, including provincial and All-Ireland Championships.

County senior & intermediate champions Drom & Inch and Thurles Sarsfields had reached Munster finals by the time the second lockdown came into force and the Camogie Association has yet to clarify whether this championship will be completed.

SOCCER

The North Tipperary & District League have an opportunity to complete their 2020 campaign, however no decision has yet been made by the league committee as to whether they will complete last season or start a new campaign afresh.

If looking to complete the 2020 season which was halted last October, the Premier Division was past the halfway stage for most clubs with six of the eight teams still in the hunt for the title while Thurles Town and Cloughjordan were staring at relegation.

In division 1, Clodiagh Rangers ‘A’ had secured promotion with Portumna Town, Rearcross and Borrisokane still fighting it out to join them with three games to go. Sallypark are all but relegated, although Arra Rovers and Ardcroney are neck and neck to avoid joining them in division 2 with four games to go.

Division 2 was all but settled with Birdhill and Clodiagh Rangers ‘B’ with very near to securing promotion.

RUGBY

The IRFU have no plans to return to recommence club rugby in June with their preferred option of a complete restart in August.

Last season saw a Community Series put in place for teams to play within their own province with Nenagh Ormond having played three games before the second lockdown came into force in October and there has been no other action since.

It would appear that clubs will return to action with the traditional Munster Senior and Limerick Charity Cups in August with the All-Ireland League commencing in late September/early October with Nenagh Ormond in division 2A and a return to an eighteen game format.

If public health measures are still in place, the Community Series could return for the autumn with a nine-game All-Ireland League season commencing in January.

For the moment, the IRFU are encouraging clubs to have a summer of fun rugby where they reconnect with players, coaches, and volunteers. From there, it will be a graduated return to training and matches.