Ulster final debate rolls on

A TOP New York official will fly to Ireland this weekend to ask the Ulster Hurling Council and Antrim to play the Ulster SHC final in America in August.

New York chairman Seamus Dooley has not given up hope of staging the final at Gaelic Park despite Antrim objections. Antrim are set to be awarded the title after the postponement of Sunday’s scheduled decider at Casement Park. Ulster council secretary Danny Murphy said options were “very limited”..

New York do not want to make the trip because of possible visa problems.

“We face the prospect of the final not being played and the game may ultimately belong to Antrim,” said Murphy.

New York are looking for a postponement and they have requested that the game is played in the United States with a possible August date.

But a Saffrons’ official believes Antrim’s busy schedule rules out the possibility of a new date for the decider.

He added: “Between now and September there seems to be no option of playing it and to carry on to October would not do much credit to the championship.”