Club Operations… NOTICE FROM NATIONAL GAA AUTHORITIES IN CROKE PARK

 Please be advised that, in line with recent government announcements, these measures and closures are now extended to Sunday April 19 inclusive, at which stage arrangements will be reviewed. In addition, we are now instructing GAA Clubs to close their facilities completely. This is to include the use of all pitches and property for recreational purposes, including walking, casual games or gatherings. Where it is not possible to restrict access please erect signage to the effect that all GAA facilities are closed and all activity suspended.

. Attached is the latest messaging from the HSE covering guidelines around volunteering which we advise our clubs to consider as they involve themselves in community-based volunteer efforts.

Individual volunteers are asked to register with Volunteer Ireland (26 Counties) and Volunteer Now (Six Counties). We would like to thank everyone who has helped the GAA adhere to government guidelines up to this point. We would also like to assure you that we, and the wider GAA team across our counties and provinces, are working hard to ensure that we are in the best possible position to return to our games when that time comes.

Go raibh maith agaibh, Tomás Ó Riain Seán Ó hÓráin Ard Stiúrthóir Uachtarán Le meas, GAA Communications Dept. Rannóg Cumarsáide CLG / GAA Communications Dept. Gutháin / Tel : +353 (01) 865 8659 CLG, Páirc an Chrócaigh, Baile Átha Cliath 3 / GAA, Croke Park, Dublin

Waterford City and County Council takes the lead in joining together local organisations to assist citizens during Covid-19 The confidential phoneline service available from Monday is being established by the new COVID-19 Waterford Community Response Forum, which includes over a dozen agencies and organisations. The helpline is focused primarily on ensuring that vulnerable members of the community or those living alone can access deliveries of groceries, medicine and fuels.

The role of the Forum is to ensure that there is a co-ordinated community response and to enable all voluntary statutory agencies to collaborate in support of our communities and particularly of our most vulnerable members. I

ncluded in the COVID-19 Waterford Community Response Forum will be: · Waterford City and County Council · Health Service Executive · An Garda Síochána · Waterford Area Partnership · Waterford Leader Partnership · ALONE · Waterford Local Link · Waterford Age Friendly Alliance · Waterford Public Participation Network (PPN) · Waterford GAA County Board · An Post · Other community, voluntary and sports representatives

The new phoneline is just one aspect of the Forum’s work. Its core aim is contributing to the community-wide effort to limit the spread of COVID-19. Waterford City and County Council, through this group, will ensure that the wide variety of groups working across the county and city to assist those in need, will do so in an organised, collaborative and targeted way.

The Council’s COVID-19 Community Response Forum is there to ensure the very best use of the many resources assisting vulnerable persons with their daily needs at this unprecedented time, whether that is collecting medication, food shopping, social support and contact. Chief Executive of Waterford City and County Council, Michael Walsh, explains “There are a number of agencies currently doing excellent work in delivering care to older and vulnerable people in our communities. These groups are currently operating independently of each other and our role in Waterford Council is to provide a targeted, integrated and coordinated approach to the delivery of these much needed services to our more vulnerable citizens across the City and County of Waterford during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Waterford Council is ideally placed both statutorily and regionally to channel this great work and provide the governance structure in partnership with all stakeholders. This public health crisis has changed life for so many, and we are there to help with that change. Our own staff whose day-jobs have changed due to this crisis, will be a key resource in the management and operation of this community support programme along with our partner agencies/groups.

Set to come into effect from Monday 30th March, a dedicated contact centre through the main contact number 0761 10 20 20 with the lines open from 8:00am to 8:00pm seven days a week.” An information leaflet and other information will be distributed around the city and county, particularly to vulnerable households, over the coming days.

The following websites are the primary sources in Ireland for public health information regarding Covid 19: See here for HSE: https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/coronavirus.html See here for PHA: https://www.publichealth.hscni.net/news/covid-19-coronavirus#situation-in-northern-ireland

A Chairde, Since the GAA announced a suspension of all game-related activities until March 31st inclusive, the response by our club and county volunteers has helped lift our collective community spirit. Across the island we have witnessed selfless acts of kindness and generosity, many coordinated by GAA clubs and volunteers. These are to be celebrated and cherished.

As per the Taoiseach’s address on St. Patrick’s night, things are going to get worse before they get better, and the GAA will continue to play a role in enhancing community spirit and assisting those most in need. To ensure our volunteers achieve maximum impact, the Community & Health Department in Croke Park is liaising with the Department of Health/HSE and the Department of Rural and Community Development to identify priority actions likely to best assist the most vulnerable within our community. These will all adhere to the most up-to-date COVID-19 public health advice, including social distancing, social and personal hygiene, etc. This will be issued to all clubs and County Health & Wellbeing Committees as soon as they are available. We will also be issuing next week through the official GAA communication channels two articles highlighting the GAA’s role in supporting communities, and another identifying how we can best maintain our mental, physical, and social, wellbeing during these challenging times.

In the meantime, the HSE has asked that we communicate to as many people as possible a change in the way the public is being asked to make contact. If someone suspects they have symptoms, they are requested to visit hse.ie or phone HSE Live 1850 24 1850.

All GAA units are encouraged only to follow advice from trusted points of information, such as the following, which will be updated regularly: @HSELive @CMOireland @publichealthni

The following websites are the primary sources in Ireland for public health information regarding Covid 19: See here for HSE: https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/coronavirus.html See here for PHA: https://www.publichealth.hscni.net/news/covid-19-coronavirus#situation-in-northern-ireland

The most up-to-date info pack from the HSE is available here, and includes useful videos. The role played by County Health & Wellbeing Committees and Healthy Clubs to date has been significant. Please continue displaying such leadership while always minding yourselves and others by adhering to the public health advice regarding COVID-19. Ní neart go cur le chéile. The Community & Health team GAA Community & Health Department | An Roinn Pobail agus Sláinte CLG Fón: +353 (01) 819 2352 Ríomhphost: community.health@gaa.ie CLG, Páirc an Chrócaigh, Baile Átha Cliath 3 / GAA, Croke Park, Dublin 3

A chairde, As part of our collective efforts in dealing with the Covid-19 outbreak, it is our intention to communicate with our units on a regular basis and keep you informed of developments as they happen.

The GAA can today confirm that a number of coaching and games initiatives will not proceed in light of the prevailing circumstances. These include the 2020 Féile competitions, the Celtic Challenge and activity involving Academy Squads. It has also been confirmed that the Connacht Senior Football Championship meeting between New York and Galway, scheduled to take place in Gaelic Park, New York on May 3rd, has been postponed The future for this fixture will be considered at a later date and in the context of the anticipated overall re-drawing of the national fixtures calendar for 2020 as necessitated by the ongoing disruption to the GAA games programme. We will add to this list as further cancellations arise. The Association would like to reassure our members that when games activity re-commences we will provide an adequate games schedule for our players at all ages and grades.

In the meantime, we are working on a unified approach for all of our units on the issue of Games Development and Administration personnel and will be liaising with our Provincial Councils and County Committees in the coming days.

Thank you for your combined efforts to date. These efforts have the potential to make a massive difference and it is in this vein that we ask you to continue to mobilise the GAA network and our wider membership in the interests of public health and the greater good. Please continue to exercise caution relating to social distancing and coughing and sneezing etiquette and continue to refer to HSE.ie for more detailed advice.

Tomás Ó Riain Tom Ryan Ard Stiúrthóir Director General

Statement from Waterford County Boared

The Competitions Control Committee have decided to postpone all grades of club championship games scheduled for April due to the uncertainty surrounding the resumption of activity. Should the current situation continue beyond April it is proposed to engage with the Munster Council and the National Competitions Control Committee with a view to restructuring our games programme for 2020.This may involve a change to the current Championship formats and should this be necessary we will engage with the clubs prior to any decision being made. County Leagues will resume once sanction is approved by the Statutory Bodies.

Please ensure that your club teams are adhering to the directive that games, training and team gatherings at all ages and all grades are suspended until March 29th. We would ask clubs and their members to familiarise yourselves with the advice and instructions of the Government and the HSE and to observe these measures at all times.

Statement from Western GAA Board

Following on from an email, which you  have received  from the Secretary Waterford GAA in relation to a decision taken by the Competitions Control Committee to postpone all grades of club championship games scheduled for April due to the uncertainty surrounding the resumption of activity, please note that this also includes all championship games which were due to be played under the Western Divisional Board.

All Clubs and their members should familiarise yourselves with the advice and instructions of the Government and the HSE and to observe the measures outlined at all times

… Dungarvan GAA Community Assistance Available

If you require or know somebody who needs assistance during this present health crisis please contact one of our volunteers listed here: Roddy Healy 087 6387198 Teresa Daly 087 7630889 Martina Dalton 087 9028710 Pat Dalton 086 8406660 John O’Brien 087 6485997 Thomas Duggan 087 1334224 Jonathan Regan 086 3461723 Eleanor O’Dwyer 087 7857814 Jonathan Shaw 087 4043693 Marie Duggan 087 6923799 Jack Curran 083 3498055 Gillian Curran 087 6427401 Mary Killigrew 087 3267201 Tony Ryan 087 7657805 Mike Dwyer 087 2478549 Sharon Duggan 087 2874769 James Kiely 085 8603833 Shane Duggan 086 1098700 Colin Bulfin 087 0514454 Breda Veale Niamh Harty Ger Cusack 086 1796295 Amy Cusack 087 6191164 David Morrissey 085 8111213 Grace O’ Callaghan 087 7747675 Pele Callaghan 087 6814368

Confirming as per the statement all games, training sessions and activities under the auspices of Waterford GAA are suspended until March 29th. Clubs are advised to reduce social interactions as much as possible. Waterford GAA will continue to monitor the situation,adhering to the advice from the Government, HSE and Croke Park and will provide updates once to hand.

 JJ KAVANAGH AND SONS COUNTY HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 1 ROUND 1 ALL COUNTY HURLING LEAGUES COMMENCE Dungarvan off to a Winning Start

Dungarvan 0-10 Roanmore 0-7

The strong and high cross field wind was a spoilsport for this SHL game at the Dungarvan club grounds last Saturday afternoon as the weather continues to make the headlines at the start of this year’s GAA season. Quality hurling was also a no-no in the heavy underfoot conditions but credit both sides, as with all teams this weekend, for their determined approach to the game. With the first use of the diagonal wind, Roanmore opened a 0-2 to 0-0 lead through Gavin O Brien and Lee Hearne. A Ryan Donnolly pointed free and a first score at this level by last year’s minor Johnny Burke had the sides level at the end of the first quarter during which the home side’s defence denied Roanmore a big half time advantage. The sky Blues led by 0-5 to 0-2 approaching the short whistle courtesy of further points by Ian Chester(f) and Gavin O Brien 0-2(1f) before a second Ryan Donnolly pointed free kept the Dungarvan deficit manageable at the break on a score of 0-5 to 0-3.

With the elements in their favour and their defence again their best sector, Dungarvan won the second half by 0-7 to 0-2. Ryan Donnolly and Gavin O Brien(f) traded early scores before minors per Donnolly and Brendan Cullinan from play levelled proceedings at 0-6 each. Emmet O Toole had a goal scoring chance snuffed out by a resolute home defence before a further score by Donnolly(f) earned the Blues the lead for the first time, 0-7 to 0-6.

Credit Roanmore, they drove at the winners’ defence constantly but were denied scores including a good goal opportunity before points by Gavin Crotty, Johnny Burke and Ryan Donnolly(f) sealed a home win. Emmet O Toole scored what was only Roanmore’s second point of the half.

Scorers :

Dungarvan : Ryan Donnolly 0-6(4f), Johnny Burke 0-2, Brendan Cullinan and Gavin Crotty 0-1 each

, Roanmore : Gavin O Brien 0-4(2f), Lee Hearne, Ian Chester(f) and Emmet O Toole 0-1 each.

Teams :

Dungarvan : Darren Duggan; John Curran, Jack Lacey, Luke Egan; Gavin Power, Jamie Nagle, Tristan Loftus; Conor Sheridan, Joe Duggan; Kealan Daly, Johnny Burke, Brendan Cullinan; Conor Duggan, Gavin Crotty, Ryan Donnolly. Sub : James Kiely.

Roanmore : Jack Chester; Conor Ryan, Frank McGrath, Dale Hayes; Brian Nolan, Rory Furlong, Eamonn Power; Harry White, Charlie Chester; Sean Burke, Gavin O Brien, Ian Chester; Lee Hearne, Paul O Sullivan, Emmet O Toole. Subs : David Barrett for Brian Nolan, Tony O Brien for Emmet O Toole, Shane Mackey for Ian Chester.

Referee : Thomas Walsh (Modeligo).

Other Division 1 League games : DLS 0-15 Ballygunner 1-10. Mt. Sion 1-7 Passage 0-9.

Under 14 Western Football Championship

There was drama and excitement aplenty last Sunday morning out in a very blustery Aglish where our Under 14 footballers contested the Western football semifinal against local side St.Olivers. On what was a fresh Spring day we had the advantage of the windy conditions in the first half but in what was our first outing this year we displayed signs of greenness and the concession of an early goal didn’t look encouraging for us at all. However we gradually began to get into the game and played some delightful football and the scores eventually came. Come halftime we held a 1.5 to 1.1 lead which given the prevailing conditions didn’t look like it would be sufficient.

However it was to be a tremendous hard working performance in the second half with our backs under severe pressure from a skilful St.Olivers team. That pressure was alleviated some bit when in one of our forays in attack yielded a welcome goal to increase our lead further and it was now a case of trying to hold out . The concession of another goal was to really test us with the game near a conclusion. Then with just minutes left we were dealt a hammer blow when a deflected shot gave our goalie no chance and found its way to the net. With the final whistle coming shortly after two evenly matched teams couldn’t be separated on a 2.5 to 3.2 scoreline.

So having played 50 minutes on a full sized pitch with just thirteen players a side both teams had to set out for an additional ten minutes each half of extra time in a fairly exhausting condition. Playing into the breeze in the first period we managed to find the reserves to register a goal to St.Olivers solitary point. In the second period we managed to get some breathing space and two further goals were to see us run out winners on a 5.7 to 4.3 scoreline. In a match best summarised by three penalties, 70 minutes football a brace of goals for Zach Power and a hat-trick of goals for Corey Lyons it was a fairly exciting start to this years campaign.

We now progress to an unexpected Western Final. Panel: Aaron Murray, Will Healy, Luke Irwin, John Meehan, Darragh Murphy, Donnacha Hamilton, Billy Hickey, James Maye, Luke Power, Leon Lannon, Callum Bulfin, Zach Power, Oisin Hallahan, Corey Lyons, Jacob Dalton, Adam Mulligan.

     THE PARK HOTEL WESTERN UNDER 20C FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP                                       

  Second Half Comeback Secures Dungarvan Win

Dungarvan 2-11 Ballyduff 3-7

At the end of the first quarter in this Western C under 20 football championship Group game in Clashmore last Sunday morning, Ballyduff, playing into the teeth of the gale in were deservingly in front by 3-2 to 0-2. Goals by Florence Flynn, Shane Casey and Cathal Murphy looked to have won this encounter for the Reds even at this early stage. However, Ballyduff did not score for the rest of the first half and points by Oisin Morrissey (2), Seanie McGrath (2), Tristan Loftus and Daniel Kiely gave Dungarvan some hope for the second half with the scoreboard reading 3-2 to 0-6.

Cathal Murphy added a pointed free to Ballyduff’s first half tally on the restart but then Dungarvan thundered into the game. A goal by Blues goalie Toby Taylor from the penalty spot and points via Oisin Morrissey, Joe Duggan, and Johnny Burke left the game level at 3-3 to 1-9 and 46 minutes played. After this period of Dungarvan domination, Cathal Murphy restored Ballyduff’s lead with a brace of pointed frees which were answered by a Seanie McGrath point from play, 3-5 to 1-10.

With ten minutes to play a close in goal by David Hayes gave Dungarvan the lead for the first time and Joe Duggan followed up with his second score of the hour, 2-11 to 3-5. True to tradition, Ballyduff threw everything at the Blues to salvage the game. Cathal Murphy pointed a free and he looked to have scored the winning goal but for Toby Taylor to make an outstanding save and direct the ball over the cross bar.

Over the hour, Ballyduff deserved at least a draw and credit to both sides for their determined efforts in such trying conditions.

Teams :

Dungarvan : Toby Taylor; Sam Dalton, Brendan Collins, Cameron Maguire, Johnny Burke, Lorcan McGovern, Oisin Morrissey, Tristan Loftus, David Hayes, Joe Duggan, James O Callaghan, Seanie McGrath, Daniel Kiely.

Ballyduff : Sean Kingston, Patsy Drislane, Jason English, Darragh Murphy, Jack Barry, Conor Hickey, Aidan O Brien, Sean Hickey, Jack McDonagh, Billy Carroll, Florence Flynn, Shane Casey, Cathal Murphy, Josh Ahern, Fionnan Walsh

. Referee : Donal O Murchadha (An Rinn).

Teams in this Champonship : Ballyduff, Ardmore, Dungarvan.