Louth GAA are preparing to hold 13 championship games at their centre of excellence in Darver this weekend.
County board officials have reacted swiftly to the news that no spectators would be allowed to attend games, by switching their championship fixtures to their main training base.
The board will hold almost all hurling and football games there without spectators for the next three to four weeks.
This follows the Government's most recent restrictions in response to the rising number of Covid-19 cases in Ireland, with matches put behind closed doors, and outdoor training limited to groups of no more than 15.
It has been an extremely challenging time for county boards nationwide but Louth secretary Bob Doheny says that excellent communication is helping their executive through the pandemic.
"We sat down straight away when word came through on Tuesday evening, and once we had word that crowds were disallowed we called a meeting that night," he told RTÉ Sport.
"We just decided to move all of our club fixtures to our training centre at Darver and those games will be played on two pitches there.
"We were due to have 15 games there this weekend but two have since been taken out of the venue due to travel arrangements."
"We have just got on with it. It's the strangest of times. A couple of clubs had to close down for a few days as well while test results came back. Thankfully, all of that turned out okay.
"The key is that we constantly communicate with each other, the clubs, the board and the executive. We constantly meet, our chairman lets us get on with things, and we meet the challenges as they come."
"Up to now we had a policy of giving each club 60 tickets"
Doheny was dismayed to hear of the total prohibition on what was already a small number of spectators but is relieved that modern technology will allow Louth to stream almost every game online.
"We are very disappointed that even small crowds will not be allowed in – up to now we had a policy of giving each club 60 tickets," he said.
"However, we will be showing 95% of our games live on Lú Tv so supporters will at least get to watch if they choose.
"This weekend we will have a mini studio between the two pitches and our cameras will turn from one field to the next as the games commence and end."
The pandemic has greatly upset the board’s progressive plans to develop a new €12m stadium at Dundalk which was expected to be completed within two years.
And their new development squad structure has been placed on ice.
Former Louth senior footballer and manager Colin Kelly was recently appointed as academy squad coordinator.
His appointment came on the recommendation of a special 16-man development group review of Louth GAA in which four specific group leaders - Kelly, Seamus O’Hanlon, Eamonn McEneaney and Derek Crilly - and sub-committees were identified and set-up.
Such developments – on and off the field – will have to wait.
For now, the county board is dealing with matters of a much more serious and compacted nature.
"It’s week to week, simple as that," Doheny says.
"It’s no-one’s fault but reacting to trends or government decisions is part of life for us at the moment. We had plans and we will see them through, but things are tight financially for every board in the country and we have to keep an eye on that.
"When we had spectators allowed in we probably only covered our costs, we were certainly not making money on the gates.
"But you adapt. Last weekend was our first weekend out with Lú Tv and it went well. We streamed five games and had a lot of buy-in from people within the county and around Ireland.
"This weekend, with 13 games on offer and a special package, we are hoping for a big take up.
"I have spoken to a few people in other counties, and we all seem to be in the same situation, we are all struggling along.
"Finance will be the big thing."
The Louth secretary is hopeful that, providing assistance is forthcoming, a 2020 inter-county series can be played.
It is likely that the GAA would need financing from the Government to ensure this happens.
For instance, the proposed Allianz League restart in October would see Louth travel to Cork for their re-opening game and that’s a weekend trip that could cost in the region of €6-7,000.
With no significant gate receipts from domestic action, counties will find it hard to resume without help.
"If the financial support is there, we definitely can run off an inter-county season," Doheny feels.
"I definitely think there is a window and with assistance it could happen.
"Who knows what is next? Right now, our aim is to get everything finished locally and to complete the Louth championships.
"We’ve worked hard with that in mind no matter what has come our way. That’s the main target."
