Kerry win NY SFC final on walkover
Kerry, unbeaten all season in the Championship’s league format, were to face the Cavan club in an eagerly anticipated final in the Bronx and a large crowd had gathered to witness the final game on a day which saw Meath take the JFC and Connecticut State land the senior hurling title.
Despite having at least nine of their panel play in that JFC final for either the Meath or Armagh clubs, Cavan failed to show confirming rumours that they would not appear as a mark of respect to their former club-mate John Moore, 23, following his death in the early hours of Monday morning.
Cavan had requested a postponement of the final, but as Moore had not been a player at the time of his death, the New York Board of the GAA felt they had no choice but to play the game as scheduled.
So Kerry took to the field, the ball was thrown in and the Kingdom scored a point unopposed before the game was called off, thus earning victory and a 23rd New York title.
However, as board officials left the field they were met by a group of men inside the perimeter fence and an argument ensued.
New York board president Liam Bermingham was subjected to verbal abuse and manhandled by several men.
As he was ushered to safety, punches began to fly, one of them apparently hitting an on-duty female nurse who had been caught up in the melee.
The nurse was in shock as she was helped to a chair where she was attended to by the duty doctor.
Mr Bermingham had earlier in the afternoon issued a statement explaining the board’s version of events.
“The game had to go ahead as scheduled,” he said.
“We did not have any other option or any other dates available and (Mr Moore) was not a playing member of the Cavan club.
“Cavan were informed of the decision yesterday (Saturday) and as far as we knew the game was going ahead.
“The first official announcement from Cavan that they would not be fielding a team was at half-time during the Junior match today. I had asked them, I said, ‘look, I’ve heard messages and I’ve heard rumours and I’ve heard innuendo. Until I get a communication from the Cavan team that they are not taking the field then we are treating it as if the game is going ahead’.
“I then got a letter from the president of the Cavan club (Tom Cahill) at half-time in the Junior football final. That was the first official notification from the Cavan club. That’s exactly what happened from our perspective.”
Later on, after the game had been awarded to Kerry but before he was set upon, Mr Bermingham added: “My personal feelings don’t matter in this at all but this is not a good day for the GAA.
“You never want this sort of thing to happen and I’d rather not say anything more but I’m sure circumstances over the next couple of weeks will develop. We have to deal with the referee’s report first of all and then Cavan can take their options from there.”
