Laois senior hurling manager Eddie Brennan is heartened by what he's seeing on the front line as a Garda during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Kilkenny native is currently working in Waterford and he feels a greater sense of community is being generated by the response to the public health crisis.
"It's hard to pull out a positive when we are dealing with a pandemic that's there internationally at the moment, but if anything, maybe the good that's going to come out of it is that it probably makes us all a little more aware from a community perspective and maybe a little bit more neighbourly in what we are doing.
"Obviously, you are abiding by social distancing. We find ourselves helping out people, you are trying to work with community volunteers and none better than the GAA to do that and identify maybe people that are vulnerable in our locality and ensure that they get looked after and that they don't go wanting for the run of the mill stuff on a weekly basis."
Brennan says there's still work to be done by everyone in being vigilant during this unprecedented situation.
"If anything the ante needs to be upped a little bit, because it's not something you can just say 'it's all good' and let the handbrake off. I think it's something that we are probably all going to have to see out. It's probably bit of a margin really what's ahead of us. We're in the early stages, but if we can maintain what we're doing now and get people to abide by it, it's going to help us in the long run."
From what I am seeing out there the vast majority of people are doing what's required of them and they are very much aware of that. From what I am doing we are liaising with people on the front line. You're ensuring the hospital staff get to do their job in security. The emergency services are working together and helping each other out and there's very good support from the community in that regard."
30 June 2019; Laois manager Eddie Brennan and selector Niall Corcoran celebrate after the Joe McDonagh Cup Final match between Laois and Westmeath at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Daire Brennan/SportsfileLaois had a great 2019, winning the Joe McDonagh Cup before shocking Dublin in the All-Ireland qualifiers. Their promotion to the Liam McCarthy Cup guaranteed them four Leinster Championship games, but Eddie Brennan concedes that if there is a GAA Championship in 2020, it's likely to be constructed in a traditional format with no second chances.
"The knockout brings a certain type of attraction, when in it's in a one off game like that, it really puts a premium on performance. It's hard to see how the round robin is going to be fixed up. If it does comes to pass, the club scene is going to have to be accommodated. Therefore, you are going to see a very shortened inter-county calendar if that goes ahead.
"From the point of view of losing that round robin, we would be a little bit disappointed, because if you are talking about going and mixing with the big boys, we were going to get four Championship matches this year that were really going to test where we are and to know then you were going to have two Leinster campaigns with that kind of format ahead of you. In the broader scheme of things, it's not the be all and end all. I'd be surprised if anything other than a knockout championship is run."
Brennan is delegating as his players aim to keep fit and active during an effective lockdown.
"For me it's probably like a second pre-season really and lads need to maintain themselves that if and when we get the green light to go ahead at some stage later on in the year that you are kind of ready to lift into it very quickly, because from what we're hearing, it could end up coming at you very quickly if it happens at all.
"We're checking in with them and they're keeping well and they're tipping away themselves. I don't believe in hunting around, checking up on lads. I think lads are mature enough that they can be trusted to do the right thing. They are doing bits and pieces on the What's App, being it press up challenges or hurling skills challenges."
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