GAA curtailing American dream

THE change of rule adopted at the recent Congress of the GAA will seriously curtail the activities of players contemplating a summer in the US if their county teams make an early exit from the championship.

Longford manager Luke Dempsey was clearly in the dark at the weekend when he expressed concern about players going to America because his team won’t be in action again for ten weeks, until the qualifier competition gets under way (on July 19).

Association President Nickey Brennan confirmed yesterday that no inter-county senior player who participates in either the hurling or football championship this year will be permitted to play in the North American Board area (Boston and Chicago) in the same season. And, Director-General Paraic Duffy pointed out that he had circularised all county board officers to remind them of the new regulation.

"We want to make sure that players realise what the situation is, that they can’t play in the North American Board Area. They would need to be aware in case they are planning trips to America," he commented.

The only exceptions will be in the case of inter-county players who have J1 visas. The rule, brought in for a trial period (2008-2010), also decrees that the maximum number of players permitted to play will be 18.

Brennan did not elaborate on the reasoning behind the motion but players were being attracted mainly by financial inducements, unlike in the New York Board area in recent times, reportedly on the basis that the money is not there.