By John Harrington

Offaly County Board Chairman, Michael Duignan, says the 2020 All-Ireland championships are worth fighting for.

That’s why he is going the extra mile to try to ensure the Offaly senior football and hurling panels remain free from Covid-19.

“We have had no positives cases in our senior camps, we had an underage player and that tracked back to a number of other players being deemed close contacts,” said Duignan at the launch of RTE’s 2020 GAA Championship coverage yesterday.

“So it’s tough going but I think I it is worth fighting for.

“If we look back at the end of December I think the difference playing these matches will make to the good of the country will be massive. And that’s my motivation to try and keep it going.

“In Offaly last weekend I met with the team doctor and we went through everything from A to Z…so we closed our dining room, closed our dressing rooms, put up a marquee even though we have fantastic facilities there and we can abide by the guidelines we felt we would go that extra step.

“Then out of that I issued a fresh set of protocols to all our county managers and I discussed it with them all to get agreement. In fairness, they got agreement from the players as well.

“It’s a collective approach because it’s not simple to go out and tog out, drive a couple of hours and get a takeaway dinner in your hand. It’s not ideal but is it the right thing to do in the circumstances? We believe so.

“That’s the only thing that might affect the integrity of the championships, that we might lose teams along the way.

“If we look back and the matches have happened it could be one of the great All-Irelands ever to happen under the circumstances.”

Duignan believes the manner which the Covid-19 pandemic effectively resulted in a season split between club and inter-county championship has shown the way forward for the GAA.

The club scene was energised by having the opportunity to take centre-stage at the height of summer, and the Offaly Chairman reckons there will be a positive impact on the inter-county scene too.

“I think there is a huge buzz around,” said Duignan. “I’ve said this already but to me what we got this Summer is what I would have been calling for for a long time.

“I think it was probably because there was no travel and no one in America I think it was the perfect summer for the club with all county players training at all age groups not just adult level.

“It lifted the standard. In Offaly we had an outstanding football championship in particular and a very good hurling championship as well.

“The amount of training we were doing for the amount of matches was nonsensical. What we had was a throw back to the old days. A couple of nights a week training, the county lads doing gym work on their own and matches week on week which was brilliantly received by the players.

“And that buzz was carried on into the county squad. I was out on Tuesday and both senior teams were training and for me it was the best mood and atmosphere that I have seen in Offaly in a long time.

“I’m not saying we are going to be winning Liam MacCarthys or anything but there was a real enjoyment there, allowing for the logistical problems I said there which is so unusual but the players seem to be very happy and eager for it to go ahead.

“That would be my feeling, maybe other counties have had more issues, we have been lucky with no cases linked to our senior squads as yet.

“It’s going to be very difficult to keep them out and it’s that message to get through to the players - you travel on your own even if you are the same club.

“I think the Irish soccer situation last week concentrated minds too on how the close contacts can affect you. Especially now when we are so close to the matches and if you are a close contact you are going to be out for 14 days and your championship could be over.

“I have a young lad myself in Dublin myself on the hurling panel, he’s moved back home again today and he will travel when he has a lecture just to try and stay away from it.

“But I think the mood is positive and the players are anxious to play.”