Dubliner hurler Eoghan O'Donnell admits there’s an element of trust between counties ahead of the start of the inter-county championship season, as the number of Covid-19 cases continues to increase nationwide.
The Donegal senior football squad went into isolation last week after one of their players tested positive for the virus.
That has led to the postponement of the Donegal SFC final between Kilcar and Naomh Conaill until 7 October.
It follows on from news last week that the Cork Premier SFC championship was also to be delayed, with that final likely to take place on 11 October.
It leaves county managers in a position whereby their time with certain players before their championship openers will be reduced.
With the football competition a straight knockout this year, that could be particularly damaging to affected squads.
With no testing of inter-county teams taking place, O’Donnell accepts that all players are counting on one another to admit it if a case of the virus arises.
"It's a case of trust, but I hope that would never be the case," he points out.
"This is something bigger than all of us, and, while we're delighted to have the GAA season go ahead, we still have to remember what's most important and that's our health, and looking after our family and friends."
"While I do agree with you, it is a small element of trust, I hope it would never come down to that, if we were ever put in that situation.
"It just wouldn't happen, to be honest. I can only speak for ourselves and our Dublin senior hurling set-up.
"We've been up front and followed all the guidelines because, as I said, the most important thing is our health and we have to mind that at all costs."
The Metropolitans finished their Allianz League campaign in the spring with a defeat to Clare which ended any hope of reaching the knockout stages.
It means that their next scheduled match is the Leinster quarter-final against Laois, the side that ended Dublin's campaign last year.
Despite that shock in the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final at O’Moore Park O’Donnell won’t entertain any thoughts of revenge.
"It’s a killer every year you get knocked out, to be honest. I don’t know if last year was especially (so).
"Unless you’re winning an All-Ireland, unless you’re winning trophies, you’re not happy. So it’s a killer in general. But it seems like a long time ago now, to be honest.
"This is a completely new season. It feels like nearly two seasons ago, because we had the league this year and then the break so it’s a brand new start.
"We’re just looking forward to it and being very happy to have a championship and something to look forward to."
The Leinster championship is particularly open this year.
Wexford are returning as defending champions for the first time in 15 seasons, while Galway will be looking to right the wrongs of 2019, when they failed to emerge from the provincial group.
What we're seeing now for Kilkenny is as close to a "famine" as you’re likely to get in the country’s most successful county.
They’ve failed to claim a Leinster title in four years, making this is the least successful period of Brian Cody’s exceptional era in charge.
Not since the dark days of the mid-90s have the men from the Marble City gone so long without lifting the Bob O’Keeffe Cup, and no one would be shocked if they claimed a 72nd title in November.
That said, whoever wins between Laois and Dublin will fancy a crack at the Cats the following week given the season that's in it.
Despite the disjointed nature of 2020, O’Donnell is trying to look for the positives from the year.
"I know this Covid thing has really impacted a lot of people's lives, and we have to try and mind ourselves the best we can.
"For me personally, a small bit of a break was nice. We've been on the road a long time with club and county, so the bit of a break was nice.
"And then the fear that we wouldn't get a championship kind of settled in. So when the championship got the green light we were all delighted and (we got) a new lease of energy.
"I think because it's such a short space of time for the championship to be played out, you can really go at it hell for leather, and you don't have to hold anything back.
"You don't have to worry about peaking at the right time. You just have to show up and give it your best for the short time.
"So I think players probably do have a greater sense of appreciation for it. I think, like everything, it's only when it's taken away from you that you realise how much it means.
"So we're really looking forward to getting back started."
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