The GAA and LGFA have paused all club fixtures "with immediate effect and until further notice", as huge uncertainty surrounds the 2020 inter-county championships in light of NPHET's latest recommendations.
The associations are closely monitoring developments as the Government debates a recommendation from the advisory committee to move the country to Level 5 of the Resilience and Recovery Living with Covid-19 plan.
GAA officials this morning met to discuss recent developments and put in place strategies for possible outcomes arising from this afternoon's Cabinet briefing.
While all fixtures have been suspended, training can continue as long as participants adhere to all relevant public health guidelines.
Cork GAA pleads with supporters to follow guidelines
A statement said that all club games would be suspended until further notice following celebratory scenes from across the country where social distancing and other precautions were not being followed.
We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
"In particular, post-match celebrations and a lack of social distancing at certain events have proved disappointing and problematic.
"This directive applies to all ages and all grades across the island."
Bars and social clubs are also to close but "training will continue to be permitted as per the guidelines outlined for the relevant levels in the Government's National Framework for Living with Covid-19 and relevant guidelines in the Six Counties".
The LGFA's Management Committee has endorsed the decision and also suspended all LGFA Club games at all levels with immediate effect and until further notice.
If Level 5 is not imposed, allowing inter-county training to go ahead, for now, looks like a strong possibility – but no challenge games are likely to be allowed before the potential resumption of the inter-county season.
And if inter-county games do go ahead it now seems almost certain they will be played out behind closed doors.
There was widespread surprise last night when it emerged that the National Public Health Emergency Team were advising that the Government move to Level 5 of the recovery plan.
No sport fixtures or training would be allowed under that Level 5 category.
The GAA's Covid-19 Advisory Group is likely to meet this evening, following the outcome of today's meeting between the Chief Medical Officer and the three Government party leaders, as well as the meeting of cabinet.
