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Eoin Wilson
The FAI faces the prospect of having to extend the Irish League season for the second time after agreeing to postpone Shamrock Rovers’ next three games due to cases of Covid-19 in Team Hoops
The rovers could have potentially won the 2020 Premier Division title at home against Derry City tonight, had the second-placed Bohemians also lost points to Dundalk
But after it was confirmed that Rovers players Jack Byrne and Aaron Greene had tested positive for Covid-19, with « several » first-team players also seen as close contacts and therefore unable to play or to train, the FAI has agreed to postpone the Hoops’ next three games: at home against Derry City, away against Finn Harps and at home against St Patrick’s Athletic, as new dates will now have to be found. p>
The Championship season had already been extended by a week to take into account Dundalk’s progress in Europe and the Covid-related postponement of their match against St Patrick’s Athletic
« The SSE Airtricity League has postponed Shamrock Rovers’ next three matches, including tomorrow’s game against Derry City, » an FAI statement said last night
« A positive case of Covid-19 has been identified in the Shamrock Rovers team and due to the high number of close contacts within the team, Shamrock Rovers meetings will be postponed »
The rovers have several players from Northern Ireland on their squad, including former Derry duo Aaron McEneff and Danny Lafferty, former NI goalkeeper Alan Mannus and former Glenavon man Rhys Marshall
Meanwhile, the Bohemians have confirmed that a member of their first team has also tested positive for Covid-19
But even though the unnamed player and another player, who is a close contact, have been removed from the squad and are isolated, the squad will play against Dundalk tonight.
« The Bohemians can confirm that one first-team player has tested positive for Covid-19 and another, considered close contact, is also self-isolating as a result, » the club said in a press release
« The player who last tested positive with the team on Tuesday October 6th was tested on Saturday October 10th and received his result on Monday October 12th He will remain isolated and follow all public health guidelines until he is cleared to resume training on Tuesday, October 20.
« We are happy to confirm that the player who tested positive and the player considered to be close contact are asymptomatic
« The latter also took a test for Covid-19, which came out negative He will also resume training on October 20
« The Bohemians did not ask for a postponement of the match at Dundalk and are happy that the match is continuing »
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Chasseurs de Shamrock FC, League of Ireland Premier Division, Bohemia FC, Dundalk FC, Jack Byrne, Derry City FC
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