Laois GAA clubs Park-Ratheniska and Timahoe have informed members that they are shutting down all club activities for the coming days after an adult player tested positive for Coronavirus.
The clubs play together in hurling and separately in football.
They have informed their members today and have also been in contact with the clubs they have played in recent days to inform them.
“Due to a confirmed positive Covid test today by one of our adult hurlers, we will be shutting down all club activities for the coming days,” said a text from Park-Ratheniska to their members.
“We will pass on more information as we get it.
“We are doing this in line with Laois GAA and HSE. We will contact all managers and committe etc in due course.”
Park-Ratheniska/Timahoe played Mountmellick in the opening round of the intermediate hurling championship on Friday last and played The Harps in the Junior ‘B’ grade on Saturday.
It is understood that the player was involved in both games.
Club officials from Park-Ratheniska and Timahoe have spoken to the HSE, who have informed them to advise anyone who is a ‘close’ contact to go for a test. They were told a close contact is anyone who has been in contact with the confirmed case for 15 minutes or more.
Most players are deemed ‘casual’ contacts and are advised to watch out for symptoms.
Both clubs that Park-Ratheniska/Timahoe played at the weekend have been informed – and in Mountmellick’s case they have duly told the clubs that provide players to the Mountmellick hurling team, including Kilcavan, Emo, Annanough and The Rock. The Harps, incidentally, are playing Colt-Shanahoe today in the Junior ‘A’ hurling championship.
Both Park-Ratheniska and Timahoe are due to play football championship this week – Timahoe on Thursday against Crettyard in the intermediate grade and Park-Ratheniska on Friday against Castletown.
This is the first incident in Laois of a case being reported by a GAA club player but two Laois clubs have paused activities in recent weeks.
Arles-Kilcruise and Killeshin both suspended activities after they played Old Leighlin of Carlow in challenge games and an Old Leighlin player subsequently tested positive.
In Kildare last weekend, an intermediate football championship match between Rathangan and Clogherinkoe was postponed after a brother of one of the Rathangan players got the virus.
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