Extension of restrictions adds complications for managers
With Meath currently set for a return to NFL Div 2 and NHL Div 2A action on 27th / 28th February the GAA this afternoon issued another updated set of guidelines that will make preparations more challenging.
The statement reads: Given the current exceptional rise in infection rates of Covid 19 and the increased risk of community transmission, the GAA has taken the decision that there will be no collective training permitted for inter-county teams for at least the remainder of the month of January.
In addition, Club and County gyms must stay closed until further notice.
As previously advised, and under the current Government Regulations in both jurisdictions, neither training nor games are permitted at club level currently.
Breaches of any of the above provisions will be dealt with under Rule 7.2 (e) “Misconduct considered to have discredited the Association”.
Current Level 5 restrictions will run until January 31st at which point the GAA will review the current situation and further advice in this context will be provided.
This will make the task of Meath football manager Andy McEntee and hurling manager Nick Weir more challenging and they will be monitoring the situation closely over the next few weeks.
For McEntee the immediate target will be a return to the NFL Div 1 for 2022 after relegation last year.
This year's new-look NFL Div 2 will be divided into North and South with four teams in each section.
Meath will face Mayo, Westmeath and Down in Div 2 North while Div 2 South will comprise Cork, Laois, Clare and Kildare.
Mayo finished second last after winning two, drawing one and losing four games in the 2020 NFL Div 1 and will compete in Div 2 for the first time since 1997.
Meath picked up one point from seven games after returning to Div 1 in 2020 for the first time since 2006.
The top two teams in each group will contest semi-finals while the third and fourth-placed teams will play two relegation semi-finals with the loser of each game relegated.
There will be four games guaranteed in the NFL with the championship action set to start in mid-April.
Provincial knock-out championships, with a back-door qualifier system and Tailteann Cup, will feature this year. The Leinster SFC final is scheduled for the end of May and the All-Ireland SFC decider is set for mid-July.
The first round of qualifiers will be limited to teams that do not make their provincial semi-finals while teams from NFL Div 3 and NFL Div 4 at the end of the 2021 league, after promotion and relegation are finalised and that do not reach their respective provincial finals will play in the Tier 2 FC Tailteann Cup.
Meath's Leinster MFC final against Offaly was originally scheduled for last Sunday with the All-Ireland MFC semi-finals and finals also set for January, but that will have to be rescheduled.
The 2021 u-20FC is due to start at the end of March and the 2021 minor championships are also scheduled for a March start.
Meath hurlers will compete in the NHL Div 2A on a similar basis to 2020 and in the Joe McDonagh Cup that will include Kerry, Westmeath, Carlow, Kildare, Down as well as Meath.
CLUB
The Meath club hurling and football championships are scheduled to begin at the end of July.