GAA President John Horan and Director General Tom Ryan have appealed to supporters of counties involved in upcoming All-Ireland finals to act in a safe and sensible way over the next couple of weeks.
With counties looking forward to All-Ireland hurling (Liam MacCarthy and Joe McDonagh Cups) and football finals (Sam Maguire and Under-20), the GAA's leading officials have written an open letter to members.
"It has been an achievement involving so many people to get the championships played to this juncture and our aim is to try and finish out the competitions to the highest and safest standards possible," the two officials wrote.
"Our players and those who prepare them deserve the highest level of commendation for their respective roles in helping us to stage the games and all of the training involved in advance.
"Similarly, our board officials have worked tirelessly with the county teams to ensure that every measure needed was taken and adhered to allow us to keep our players safe, fit, and healthy."
The letter stated that, as a national sporting body the GAA have a responsibility to not only our players and members, but to wider society too.
"To that end, we are encouraging everyone to embrace and enjoy the three All-Ireland finals in the coming weeks in a safe and sensible manner.
"It is extremely unfortunate that we can’t facilitate supporters at our games but that is a by-product of the pandemic we have been living through.
"While we can take pre-cautionary measures at our venues, before, during and immediately after our fixtures in attempt to look after those directly involved, we can’t control what happens away from the field of play in the aftermath of games."
The leading officials said that the Association learnt lessons some weeks ago when a number of clubs finals prompted then to move to shut down remaining club fixtures.
"We are calling on all of those who support our games and teams to follow the health guidelines, practice social distancing and to exercise caution at all times while watching and indeed after the games.
"We fully appreciate this is not the norm. In fact it goes against so much of what our games mean to people.
"However, it would be a travesty if the huge positive that have been our games would turn out to be a negative in the run up to Christmas because we abandoned our collective responsibility to play our part.
"Help the GAA to fulfil its role by playing your part and think for a minute about how you can watch and enjoy the games with both your safety and that of others in mind over the course of what should be a memorable fortnight of games."
