Art McRory

(Tyrone football manager)

"My own view at this stage is that the league will be abandoned. If that is the case, and even if it was the last league ever played, I don't think it would be excessively lamented. But I think the consequences will be same for everyone. The league has been useful for us, but I think it would put everyone on a level footing going into the championship.

"At the moment I can't see any problem with the championship. Of course, the matter is out of the GAA's control, but if the situation here can be controlled then I don't see how it will effect the Ulster championship anymore than the other provinces.

"If it does mean dropping the new championship format then it won't be a major problem, but I can't see them lightly dropping the extra 29 gates. But, for the moment, we are training our two nights a week as usual, even the foreseeable future is unknown."

Paul Flynn

(Waterford hurler)

Obviously the GAA has to take precautions and comply with government regulations. I originally thought it would just mean a postponement for this week, but it would seem that there won't be any games for a month or possibly longer. It does place the league in jeopardy, but I think it would be wrong to just abandon it. I appreciate that there are very few free dates, but, at the same time, it is supposed to be the second most important competition and to just forget about it would be to ignore what players have been training for and it sends out a very negative message about the league.

I'm not sure what the solution could be. Sometimes there is a gap of up to one month between championship games so perhaps the competition could be concluded around then. Having said that, if this crisis is prolonged, then the GAA may have no alternative but to cancel the league.

Naturally, that would have serious implications for championship preparations. I think a lot of teams would wonder which way to go. Do you simply keep training and training? That would not be a very appetising prospect.

It may come down to organising challenge games and restrictions could well be imposed on those also. In Waterford this week, the county board have closed all pitches for a week so there will be absolutely no activity whatsoever.

If that situation persists, then similar action should be taken across the country. But, hopefully, this crisis will be maintained and we will be back playing before too long.

Joe Kavanagh

(Cork and Nemo Rangers footballer)

"The club are training away as normal for the football final on St Patrick's Day, but, of course, it is in the back of your mind that the game is going to be postponed or cancelled. That does make it a little more difficult to get motivated.

But there may be one consolation if the game is postponed in that my brother Larry, who was suspended for a month, would be able to play.

"We will have to wait and see what happens next week, but it does look like the league will be the first to go. It is the secondary competition although the new sponsors mightn't be too happy. But it is a bit strange when you look at what is happening in England and all their games going ahead.

"I think the championship will probably go ahead. It could definitely be speeded up if necessary instead of having four or five weeks between games, which I think is unnecessary anyway. Another option is to drop the new qualifying group. Of course, it would be very disappointing if it is cancelled because you always fancy your chances, but it just shows you again that there are bigger things that sport."

Joe Rabbitte

(Athenry and Galway hurler)

In Athenry, we are training in the hope of playing an All-Ireland final on St Patrick's Day. The disease has not been traced to this country as yet and, if that situation remains, then perhaps the other semi-final replay could be played on Saturday week.

It's very frustrating. We feel that we are going well at the moment and its a huge occasion for the club, going for back to back championships.

If there has to be a postponement, then I would hope that the GAA schedule in a revised date immediately. Teams need a definite date so they can gear themselves to that.

I'm not too worried about the National League. We won it last year and it didn't help us much in the championship. It's up to the Galway lads if they want to go places in the championship.

Winning leagues or not won't dictate which teams are still going next September.

Ciaran Whelan

(Dublin footballer)

"At this stage I would like to think the league could be finished, but it is very difficult to know. We are still training as normal, but there is nothing to immediately look forward to and that can make the training a lot more monotonous.

"The league games after Christmas are always very important in the championship preparations and so it would be very disappointing if they are all cancelled. But if we do get over this I think every effort should be made to finish the league even if that means playing two games on a weekend.

"It's too early to know if the championship will be effected. We were all looking forward to the new format, but that may have to go. But what baffles me is how most of English sporting fixtures are still going ahead.

It's hard to know if they are under-reacting or if we are overreacting. Hopefully the whole thing will pass over as soon as possible because, from a players point of view, this is another year on the clock and obviously we have put a lot of work in the upcoming championship. "

Willie O'Connor

(Kilkenny hurler)

"It is sad to see this happening, but there are bigger issues than just sports at stake. People have their livelihoods to worry about here. I find it hard to know what is going to happen, it's all up in the air. Everyone is guessing, but I suppose the next few weeks are critical.

If the league has to go, it will be very hard for teams to replace the games. You can train all you want, but it is impossible to compensate for lack of match sharpness. And I'm not sure that challenge games would be an adequate replacement.

But, having said that, it's the same for every county. Nobody will be getting a step ahead of anyone else.

John O'Mahony (Galway football manager)

"We are still training as normal for the time being, but obviously we are monitoring the situation and we are very much under the command of the county board. It has already effected our training to some extent in that under-21 games and a senior challenge for the weekend were all called off.

"But everyone is in the dark at the moment as to what will happen over the next couple of weeks. It would be a pity if the league wasn't finished in some shape or form and if at all possible I think it should be played out. That may mean playing football and hurling every weekend, but there should be enough pitches in the country to do that.

"The championship is obviously even more important and if the new system had to be postponed until next year then so be it. But, of course, we would have to be as helpful as we can to the farming community and from a manager point of view it is in the back of your mind that the games may not go ahead."

Tomas Dunne

(Tipperary hurler)

"If there are many more postponements then it would seem fairly unlikely that the league will be finished out. There is really only calendar space to allow for one or two cancellations. After that, it begins to get crowded. So the next 10 days are critical.

From Tipp's perspective, we have already won two games in the league and were anxious to do well in the competition again this year. We were using the games to get match fit and to introduce younger players to the team. If the league is cancelled, it will place all teams in a difficult position in terms of adequate preparation.

But we have to look at the bigger picture, even within a sporting context. For the teams left in the club championships, this is the worst case scenario.

Whenever this crisis subsides, they will have to take priority and I don't think anyone would quibble with that. The fact that the Irish won't be at Cheltenham is a huge blow for sports fans. It is going to be a quiet few weeks.

Seamus Moynihan

(Kerry footballer)

"If the league is cancelled then, of course, it will have a huge effect on our championship preparations. It's always been a good ground to try out new players and test the form of others, but it will be the same for everyone. We would all go into the championship without the benefit of the league games and it would upset the structure of every county's preparations.

"But there's no doubt that this would have huge consequences on the economy if it is not contained. We are still training at the moment and will continue to do so until there is any recommendations that we shouldn't, and that's something where we will have to wait and see what happens next.

"If there was a need to speed up the championship then the new format with the extra games could be dropped. But that's a long way down the road yet and we will have to wait on the events of this week before we know any more."

Kevin McNaughton

(Derry hurling manager)

We agreed to take this Sunday (yesterday) off and are back in training on Tuesday night as normal. Hopefully, the disease won't cross into the south, facilitating a return to league action, but, the longer this drags on, the less likely the leagues are to resume.

From our point of view, losing those league games would be devastating. We have such a long break between the end of the league and the championship that it is hard anyway. To find ourselves without any more games from now to mid-summer would wreak havoc on our season really. How do you ask lads to train week in week out with absolutely nothing for then to look forward to?

It is very unfortunate and, at the moment, it is hard to see when things will get going again. I suppose it might come down to trying to arrange challenge games, but once the championship gets underway across the border, it will be increasingly difficult to find teams to play.