Covid-19 case the reason for Offaly team's withdrawal

The Offaly Camogie County Board has confirmed that a positive Covid-19 case is the reason for the decision to withdraw from this weekend's All-Ireland senior championship fixture against Cork.

The Group 1 match was scheduled to take place in Birr on Saturday. But the Cork Camogie County Board was informed by the Camogie Association on Wednesday night that Offaly are unable to field a team and so a walkover has been awarded.

A member of the Offaly management team has been diagnosed with Covid-19, and a number of players are self-isolating due to unrelated cases.

The statement from the Offaly Camogie County Board is as follows:

"Further to the news that broke yesterday evening, it is with regret that we can confirm that the Offaly Senior team are withdrawing from the first round fixture in this year's championship due to a member of our Senior management team being diagnosed with Covid-19.

"In addition a number of our players are self isolating due to unrelated cases."

The Faithful County's remaining All-Ireland championship Group 1 fixtures are against Galway (November 1) and Wexford (November 7).

Cork manager Paudie Murray has expressed disappointment that the clash against Offaly has been called off so close to the date of the match.

“I'm very disappointed because a lot of work has gone on behind the scenes for the last couple of days in relation to the logistics of a Cork panel travelling to Offaly in the current climate,” Murray told the Irish Examiner.

“Trying to transport and feed players looks nothing like it used to, and we are all working people.”