Down manager Paddy Tally has described the last number of days as 'unbelievable' as the GAA calendar remains suspended while the country, both north and south of the border deals with the coronavirus pandemic.
"It's been a remarkable 10 days since the whole thing broke" the Galbally clubman exclusively told Off The Ball, as uncertainty over the fixtures calendar continues.
"We got the call last week that everything would be called off on Thursday, that was the last day we were going to be able to get together as a squad in terms of football.
"To be honest, since we've stopped, it [football] hasn't even crossed our minds, the way things have worked out, you're more concerned about your relatives and friends, especially the elderly relatives we have.
"We have to do anything we can to prevent serious illnesses as a result of this virus.
"In terms of society, people's working habits, education, and the health service, it really is quite unbelievable; at times you feel like you're living through a sci-fi movie but it is reality and something we have to just get on with."
There has been much controversy over schools and colleges remaining closed in Northern Ireland, as per guidelines from Westminster while all creches, schools, and third-level institutions in the Republic are shut until at least 29th March.
Tally, who's a senior lecturer in Physical Education at St. Mary's College in Belfast feels this is not the correct direction to be taking.
"It's quite unbelievable that in one way you're told to social distance and not mix with people but they expect our teachers, caretakers and secretarial staff to go onto schools and go on as normal.
"The impression I'm getting from where I'm from is most people are taking a lead from what's happening down south.
"The INTU, which is the biggest teachers organisation here, has called for closed schools.
"Queens University said the other day that all lectures from now on in will be done through distance learning with no face-to-face contact so it all does lead to the question of why are the schools not being closed at this point in time?
"It makes no sense whatsoever.
"It feels like we're split along the old Nationalist and Unionist lines again in terms of Nationalists saying schools should be shut while Unionist policy is that they should remain open.
"At this stage, it's farcical. I think a decision needs to be made, to give people a chance to organise their lives and move on to the next phase.
"I do think by the end of this week the schools will be closed.
"I think parents will make the choice themselves too. A lot of parents I know are not sending their children back to school, they feel as if it's too risky, especially if you've someone in the house with an underlying medical condition or elderly.
"I think people are making up their own minds and really if you're waiting for Government to make decisions, you're in trouble, we've learned over the years that we don't really have a functioning Government.
"People are making these decisions for themselves and I think that's the right thing to do."
Tally feels the direction the GAA took in suspending all activity soon after the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar's message last Thursday is commendable.
"You have to credit the GAA for being one of the front runners in this.
"They decided to make the decision early and closed up all, immense credit has to be given to them."
Tally, who was part of the 1995 Tyrone squad who reached the All-Ireland final under Mickey Harte, is unsure where the organisation and indeed sporting life as whole goes from here.
"In terms of the future, I do not see any football taking place for a number of months.
"I honestly don't think much is going to happen until at least the summertime, maybe July or August time when the virus has settled down and people are back to normality.
"That might even be an optimistic, wishful scenario, there might be not much happening this year.
"It's crazy the way it's worked out but it is what it is, we have to look at the bigger picture here. The societal risk and the pressure on our health services."
Tally has been in his current role since August 2018 and Down currently sit second in Division Three of the Allianz Football League, on the cusp of promotion.
He feels that to abandon the campaign now would not be the right thing to do.
"I think with the league the way it is at the moment, they have to remain in some way. When the league resumes, whether it's later on this year or it's the start of next year, it should stand.
"For example, like us on seven points, they were seven hard-fought points to get. I don't think it's really plausible that you start from scratch again.
"If by the end of this year, these last two league rounds could be played off and next year we all know where we're starting would be good.
"Worst case scenario if the league wasn't finished this year, the two remaining games should be added onto next year's calendar."
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