The Louth GAA board was one of the first to outline its plans for a domestic 2020 championship and insist that the club will come first in the weeks ahead.
Throughout the country plans are being rolled out for upcoming club championships with some inter-county managers calling for greatly compacted competitions.
This has already put huge scrutiny on the 11-week window that was supposed to be availble for clubs.
Emerging evidence from around the country shows that, in some counties, teams could be out of their domestic series within three weeks of re-commencing club action.
However, Louth are resisting the temptation to rush their championship through and are sticking with a more extended format where each top-flight club will get at least plenty of games.
Divisions One and Two of the leagues will be split into two groups and a draw will place six teams in one section and another six in another.
"All clubs will get five games," confirmed county secretary, Bob Doheny.
This policy will ensure that clubs get plenty of action with the team at the top of both sections qualifying for the league final. Further down, Divisions 3A and 3B, will see plenty of fixtures also.
"The message from Croke Park is to focus on clubs for now and that's what we are going to do," Doheny says.
"There is an 11-week period coming up for clubs to play in, and we will be availing of that.
"But before that we have to get people educated before they return to our premises. And I think all the work being done so far has been really good and practical.
"The pressure on county boards to run local competitions swiftly - and give inter-county managers as much time as possible with their players - will undoubtedly lead to friction before the start of September."
At this juncture clubs will be pushing for county titles while inter-county bosses will want their best players for training.
Doheny reiterates that clubs are a huge focus in the Wee County and says the board has made their plans known.
"We are going by what Management Committee says and we have spoken to the clubs. Our Championship will be over by 14 September and a lot of inter-players will already be out of the frame by then. There won't be any major problem in Louth."
The Covid-19 pandemic has upset plans to develop a new €12m stadium in Dundalk, however.
The sod was only turned on the site last January and seemed to signal an end to years of frustration after respective proposals for new grounds failed across the past couple of decades.
Louth's current county ground in Drogheda only has a 3,500 capacity with grass banking on three sides.
The new stadium was expected to be built within two years, but the global pandemic has left this project – and others in Casement Park, Waterford, Kildare and Meath – in uncertain territory.
The county board owns a 14-acre site in Dundalk and was looking for sports capital grants and money from Croke Park, but all plans are up in the air.
Louth were seeking €4m in Government funding, along with €4m from the GAA but with the Association in danger of taking a €50m financial hit this year, everything has been put on hold.
Doheny says matters will be assessed in the coming weeks and months but adds that the board is determined to press ahead with the project when they can.
"The process of starting the new stadium had begun and we were looking forward to providing a new ground to offer improved facilities for club football and county football.
"Right now, with all that has happened, we have to gauge it as we see it," he continued.
"The draw for a home series will be re-launched and we will go again.
"Things will be tough with the economy, but we will continue to assess the situation, and everything is changing quickly these days."
The board was due to hold a draw for two three bed semi-detached homes in mid-May but that was postponed, and the board will seek to hold it in the coming months.
Two Golden Tickets will be at stake and each one will win a house in either Dundalk or Drogheda
In addition, the Louth board has also drawn up a committee comprising of 16 ex-players and managers to oversee new structures for the cream of the Wee County’s young talent.
This expert group will devise a pathway for emerging Louth footballers across underage, club, schools and development squads.
"We have a lot going on, like any county board," Doheny adds.
"But the main thing is that everything and everyone is ready to go when the club grounds open again and the championship resumes.
"We know things can change along the way but we will try to get the club scene up and running again, help everyone prepare the county teams, and in the near future we will draw up plans for the stadium and our underage templates.
"The work doesn’t stop."
