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Ryan McMenamin urges GAA to postpone Fermanagh's league clash

Fermanagh manager Ryan McMenamin has called on the GAA to postpone the county's National Football...



Ryan McMenamin urges GAA to po...
Football

Ryan McMenamin urges GAA to postpone Fermanagh's league clash

Fermanagh manager Ryan McMenamin has called on the GAA to postpone the county's National Football League game with Clare after his side's preparations were rocked by positive Covid tests. 

Speaking on Thursday's OTB Sports, the three-time All-Ireland winner believes that Fermanagh will be at a distinct disadvantage if asked to fulfill their league tie against Clare in 10 days time.

"I think it needs to be a postponement," he suggested. "If they want to go on ahead more or less in the league without us, that will be the integrity of the league gone."

"To me, I think the GAA has got to act quickly and postpone it. We can draw a line under it then and tell the boys how we plan going forward."

It was announced on Wednesday that Fermanagh's senior football panel had ceased all collective activities when a number of positive Covid-19 tests were recorded by members of the team.

Due to face Clare on October 18th in the National Football League and Laois the following weekend, Fermanagh's Ulster championship is set to commence against Down in early November.

Fermanagh 24 March 2019; Ryan McMenamin of Fermanagh during the Allianz Football League Division 2 Round 7 match between Meath and Fermanagh at Pairc Tailteann in Navan, Co Meath. Photo by Philip Fitzpatrick/Sportsfile

Appointed manager of the Ulster county ahead of this season, McMenamin is more keen than anything else to have some clarity on how he can plan for the remaining weeks of 2020 and the well-being of his players.

"I just want them to make a call on this as soon as possible," he admitted, "so we can ease the minds of our players.

"There's a lot of blame about with this Covid situation and you have to feel sorry for those players who have contracted the virus. They didn't contract intentionally.

"I've already got a few messages on WhatsApp from lads who are worrying that this was all because of them. So, you do have to think of their mental health when all of this stuff is being paraded around the country."

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Clare Fermanagh GAA Gaelic Football Ryan McMenamin