Former Galway hurler Ollie Canning reckons elimination from the championship “would be a serious price to pay” for a county team if one of their players were to contract Covid-19.

Speaking on the latest episode of Sky Sports’ Inside The Game, Canning was alluding to recent comments from GAA president John Horan that suggested teams may have to be eliminated from the championship if one of their players tested positive for Coronavirus given the short window for the competitions.

"Everything is new this year. We all hope that it doesn't get to that stage where there is a positive test of Covid-19 in any of the inter-county panels. I think that bridge will have to be crossed if the association gets to that stage,” said the Portumna man.

"But, for me, it would raise a couple of questions. Number one - a county who see themselves as being competitive, why would you penalise the whole panel? I don't know if there is any window to get players tested and to give a team two weeks off, because the championship is very congested.

“The games are coming every week. There's no break, there's no weekend...For me, there is no window to allow a team to get tested if there is a case.”

He continued: "Another question that may raise its head is if a player gets flu-like symptoms, is there a possibility that the player just says 'that's the flu' and may not come forward if this arises midweek and you've got a big game on Saturday or Sunday.

"A lot of effort goes into these games. Of course the correct thing to do is to hold your hand up and say that you've symptoms. But you will only know what to do if you're in that situation. It's very easy for us to say, 'everybody should do the right thing'.

"That would be a serious price to pay if somebody is unfortunate enough to pick up some symptoms or actually test positive for Covid-19."

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