Two weeks into Level 5 restrictions and the country is in a position we did not think probable as lockdown loomed in mid-October.
The R rate, a key indicator of the spread of the virus in Ireland, has reduced to below one according to Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly and the national 14-day incidence rate per 100,000 has been decreasing steadily since October 27th according to the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC).
For the GAA, allowing inter-county action to go ahead despite the lockdown has been a godsend, with over 40 fixtures being settled since the measures were introduced on October 21st.
Despite the rapid spread of the virus in recent weeks, Sligo is the first team to have their championship dreams dashed by coronavirus.
Earlier this week, Sligo county board confirmed that their footballers were withdrawing from their Connacht semi-final fixture against Galway set for this Saturday after seven members of the panel tested positive for the virus.
The Sligo players were reportedly angered that there was no offer to rescheduled the match, with manager Paul Taylor telling Ocean FM: "It is very disappointing for everyone involved. The players are gutted, we are all gutted. The players, they are so disappointed. They would have thought that a refixture would be an option and feel that the situation has been forced on them.”
But no such option has been given and instead the Championship looks set to roll on without them.
The decision leaves the Tribesmen waiting to learn their final opponents as Roscommon and Mayo face-off on Sunday at 1.30pm in the province's other semi-final, with RTÉ covering the match live from Dr Hyde Park.
Before that, Round 1 of the Hurling Championship's backdoor system will get the weekend started, as Laois play Clare in Nowlan Park. Fresh wounds from the Banner's heavy defeat to Limerick in the Munster Championship will likely sharpen their efforts to stay in the race for Liam McCarthy.
After their narrow defeat to Kilkenny in the Leinster Hurling semi-final, Dublin go up against Cork at 3.45pm, with the match being televised on Sky Sports.
The Limerick hurlers outclassed Tipperary in horrendous conditions last weekend, but this Saturday will see the county's footballers attempt to emulate that result against their neighbours in the Munster semi-final, with the match throwing-in at 1.15pm in the Gaelic Grounds.
In the remaining Munster semi-final, Cork will be hoping to put a stop to Kerry's bright return to inter-county action, but judging by the Kingdom's form in their two games since the season restart, a heavy task faces the Rebels at home in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday, which will be shown live on RTÉ.
In Ulster, Cavan and Antrim will meet on Saturday, before Fermanagh face Down on Sunday in the weekend's two quarter-final matches.
Finally in Leinster, all four Football quarter-finals will be played off this weekend, beginning with Westmeath against Dublin on Saturday, while Longford play Laois, Wicklow face Meath and Kildare meet Offaly on Sunday, with those three games being shown on GAAGO.
