New York must look to youth

NEW YORK GAA president Liam Bermingham has admitted gaelic games in the Big Apple must adapt a strong development programme if they are to be competitive at championship level.

Bermingham was hit badly by New York's demoralising 3-28 to 1-8 defeat at the hands of Mayo in their Connacht SFC encounter in the Bronx's Gaelic Park on Sunday.

The Kildare man, who took over the presidency last year, said that tougher immigration laws in the States following the 9/11 terrorist attacks had seen the Irish population in New York dwindle and the GAA in the city had to encourage American-born children to take up Gaelic games in order for them to survive.

"Our problem since 9/11 has been that the level of emigration here has fallen dramatically and we're seeing a lot of people returning to Ireland," Bermingham said. "Our clubs have lost a lot of players and we do see the average age of the teams rising. And it's been reflected in our inability to put a really competitive team on the field.

"And that's not just in New York, it's a common factor throughout the US and a lot of it is because of the new immigration laws that have come into effect.

"It just shows how important it is that we develop an underage structure here to keep the American-born kids filtering through in order to keep it competitive. That's something we've probably let die out a little bit in the past because emigration was so strong and there was no real reason to. We thought all these players would always be here.

"So unless we take a long-term view of it, it's going to be very difficult and not even long term. Even within five years, unless we start having these kids coming through it's going to be very difficult.

"That's why we've appointed a development officer, Anne Holland, with a committee in place in order to bring us into the schools and a 'Gaelic for Girls' scheme to boost ladies football. We're just trying to appeal to a wider audience in order to move us forward."

For now, though, the differences between New York and their cousins at home are stark. Mayo steamrollered their way past a team containing a number of former senior footballers from Irish counties and a host of former minor and U21 players.

"Overall I think the result didn't reflect the abilities of the two teams but I suppose numbers don't lie and it is what it is," said Bermingham.

"It's not so much fitness as the complete lack of games and lack of meaningful competition to play against. Our fellas have played one competitive match since last September (in the FBD League) and they're coming up against a team in May that's probably played 20 competitive matches. It's very tough for us.

"Now we have to wait until October, probably, for an FBD League tie. With the winters we have here you can't play outdoors and it's March before you can even get outdoors. So at least the players will have played competitively with their clubs right through the summer. Playing in October suits us better but it is what it is."