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Water breaks return for club GAA games amid heatwave in Ireland

Gaelic football and hurling will see the return of water breaks in the coming days, as counties sanction the stoppages for club games amid a heatwave in the country. Dublin GAA has confirmed their return, with others likely to follow suit

Brian Barry

GAA Editor @BrianGBarry

Friday 12 August 2022 06:18, UK

18 July 2020; David Hyland of Athy takes a drink during a water break during the Kildare County Senior Football League Division 1 Section B Round 1 match between Athy and Sarsfields at Athy GAA Club in Athy in Kildare. Competitive GAA matches have been approved to return following the guidelines of Phase 3 of the Irish Government...s Roadmap for Reopening of Society and Business and protocols set down by the GAA governing authorities. With games having been suspended since March, competitive games can take place with updated protocols including a limit of 200 individuals at any one outdoor event, including players, officials and a limited number of spectators, with social distancing, hand sanitisation and face masks being worn by those in attendance among other measures in an effort to contain the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Photo by Piaras .. M..dheach/Sportsfile
Image: Water breaks were commonplace over the last two years

Water breaks have made a return to club GAA games this week as Ireland experiences high temperatures.

The stoppages at the midway point of each half were in place during 2020 and 2021 to prevent the spread of Covid-19. They were then removed in 2022 following the conclusion of the intercounty pre-season competitions.

However, as Ireland experiences temperatures of up to 30 degrees Celsius this weekend in some parts, county boards have elected to re-introduce the breaks to help teams playing in the heatwave.

Dublin and Tyrone have already confirmed the measure, with more counties likely to follow suit.

15 May 2021; Waterbottles on a table during the Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Group B Round 2 match between Laois and Dublin at MW Hire O'Moore Park in Portlaoise, Laois. Photo by E..in Noonan/Sportsfile
Image: Water bottles on a table during the 2021 Allianz Hurling League match between Laois and Dublin

"Due to the current heatwave, and on an exceptional basis, the CCC has decided that for all games being played this weekend, August 12 to 14th inclusive, there will be a water break (approx one minute) at or about the 15th minute of each half of a game," read a Dublin GAA statement, ahead of the latest round of hurling championship games in the capital.

The breaks came under scrutiny last year when they were used predominantly as mini coaching sessions, alongside rehydration.

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With the split season in operation, the vast majority of county championships are in full swing.

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