CORK SENIOR FOOTBALL manager Ronan McCarthy and Down boss Paddy Tally are facing proposed 12-week suspensions in relation to team gatherings in January that were in contravention of the GAA’s ban on collective activity.

The Irish Examiner first reported the news this morning and both counties will reportedly lose the home venue for at least one of their 2021 National League fixtures. 

The Cork senior footballers were filmed engaging in a collective, fitness exercise on a beach in Youghal last month as part of team building while the Down punishment relates to a gahtering at Abbey CBS in Newry.

The rule breach is of the GAA’s ban on winter training, rather than being a contravention of a Covid-specific rule.  

Indications are the GAA will not permit the resumption of collective training until later this month, with numerous timescales pushed back owing to the State’s ongoing Level Five response to a rise in cases of Covid-19. 

The GAA championship draws, which were supposed to be taking place next week, have been postponed and won’t be held until collective training resumes. It’s understood that the National Leagues will not begin before the end of March, while the All-Ireland finals are more likely to take place in August rather than July, with the possibility of further delays.

With reporting by Fintan O’Toole and Emma Duffy