Inter-county competition could commence on the weekend of May 15/16 after the Government sanctioned a return to training and games from April 19 as part of its updated loosening of current Covid restrictions this evening. Taoiseach Micheal Martin announced the return of inter-county training on that date, specifying that it would facilitate the playing of the Allianz League in May. No firm decision on the competition structure for the season has been taken yet by the GAA though, with a new, much-shortened timeframe involved. But with challenge games allowed from April 19 and a four-week pre-season expected, a five-round league still has a chance of being played between the middle of May and the middle of June.