Connacht Council CEO John Prenty says it wouldn't have been possible to postpone this Saturday's provincial semi-final between Sligo and Galway. 

Sligo have withdrawn from the Championship due to a number of positive coronavirus tests among their panel and former Roscommon goalkeeper Shane Curran feels a postponement should have been afforded to the Yeats County.

"The regulations set up by the national CCCC is that unless there's a clear 13 days between the original fixture and the next fixture then you have to give a walkover," Prenty said on OTB AM.

"There isn't 13 days between the Connacht semi-finals and the final so Sligo took the decision to concede the game, they didn't look for a postponement because close contacts are out of action for 14 days so a postponement wouldn't have helped the situation.

"The situation not only involves Sligo, it also involves Mayo, Roscommon and Galway. If we had postponed the Connacht semi-final from Saturday to the following week that would also mean postponing the final.

"The Galway, Mayo or Roscommon could get in the same situation and then you're exasperating the problem down the line. There's no wiggle room really because of the national schedule and the unpredictability about what's going to happen with COVID."

The Connacht CEO also responded to claims that an accommodation would have been reached for one of the traditionally strong county teams.

"Everybody in this situation is going to be dealt with in exactly the same way. Everybody knew the situation when we were thrilled to be able to get the Championship going.

"I think last weekend for the whole country it was great for people who were isolated and at home to be able to watch and listen to games. Unfortunately Sligo are in this situation but this is an unprecedented pandemic and unfortunately Sligo are in the situation which they are.

"I'd like to compliment Sligo on the huge efforts they made, because their protocols have been A1 and they've dealt with this in the best and most appropriate manner possible, they've done exactly the right thing."