County finals linked to Covid clusters, Ulster GAA confirms

Chief executive Brian McAvoy said the link was instrumental in the GAA decision on Monday to suspend all sporting and social activity.

There was widespread criticism of the sporting body after video footage emerged of on-pitch celebrations following Slaughneil’s Derry championship final win over Magherafelt on Sunday – with an obvious lack of social distancing.

Police are also investigating similar possible breaches of the anti-Covid health regulations at the previous Tyrone senior football county final.

Speaking to the BBC’s Sportsound Extra Time, Mr McAvoy said: “We are finding clusters of members of GAA clubs are testing positive, and invariably they are linked to teams that were playing in a county final of some sort.

“This has only become an issue in recent times, and it seems to coincide with county finals and a local community celebrating.

“Because that hasn’t happened throughout our games from July, it probably relates to activities that happened after the match.”

Mr McAvoy said the spike in the number of cases appears to be a result of “some sort of celebration at indoor venues” involving the winning teams.

He added: “Unfortunately in some cases, and I have would to say a very small minority but still even that minority is too many, we have unfortunately seen people’s hearts ruling their heads.

“We’ve had to act. We are a community organisation, we have wider responsibilities beyond the playing of our game.”