Win for New York could pose major headache for HQ

IT SEEMED like a good idea at the time, several years ago, the decision to allow New York play in the Connacht Senior Football Championship, thus keeping the exiles in touch with home base.

Now, however, it’s assuming nightmare proportions for the GAA HQ. With the deterioration of the economy here and the subsequent strengthening of the playing base in various Irish centres across the world, there is a very real possibility that New York could beat Roscommon in Gaelic Park this weekend.

That would mean Roscommon eliminated from the Connacht championship, New York advancing to the semi-final meeting, in Connacht, against the winners of Sligo and Leitrim, and therein, the problem. With so many undocumented Irish in New York, the probability is that the exiles would be considerably weakened for that semi-final back in Ireland — what then? “That would be a serious challenge,” agreed GAA president Christy Cooney yesterday, “It could be an issue because legislation hasn’t been sorted out with regard to illegal immigrants — that’s a problem.

“We have spoken to our own Department of Foreign Affairs in the past, but we can’t solve that. The only people that can solve that problem would be the US government.

“That’s a difficulty — maybe we’ll get the opportunity to talk with President Barack Obama and try and influence his thoughts on that if we can!

“If they came over with a not-very-serious-team, after knocking out Roscommon, it could make a serious mockery of the Championship, undoubtedly, but look, let’s wait and see what happens next weekend.”

So, the GAA hoping for a Roscommon win then? “No, no,” he said; “In fairness Galway could have got caught last year, New York played extremely well (came very close to causing the shock of the championship, even though reduced to 13 players for much of the game), but look, there is that concern around it and I can understand why that concern would exist, that if people come home they may not be able to get back out again. That’s the decision that people are going to have to make themselves closer to the time.

“It would be a concern to us, it would create enormous difficulties, but there’s no easy solution to it.”

Meanwhile, a sponsored walk in June will form the main fundraising drive for Galway footballers in the unique arrangement they have agreed with a charity following the loss of their main sponsor.

Cancer Care West will appear on the front of all Galway football jerseys for the remainder of the year after the unique deal was launched last night.

Galway have been without a sponsor since Aer Arann withdrew before Christmas.

The football board and Cancer Care West will hold a joint walk on June 18 in which every GAA club in the west of the county will organise a walk, with the funds being split between the two organisations.

John MacNamara, chairman of Cancer Care West said that both organisations would benefit.

“It is a fantastic opportunity for the charity to reach out to the Galway football community and create awareness of our services to those affected by cancer,” he said.

John Joe Holleran, the chairman of Galway football board, said that while it was possible for Galway to get a sponsor, this was a partnership that his board were very excited about.

“Hopefully, this new partnership will start on a high note by us winning the All-Ireland U21 final in Croke Park on Sunday but both the GAA and cancer patients stand to benefit by this arrangement,” he said.

Galway (U21F v Cavan): M Breathnach; G Sweeney, C Forde, A Tierney; J Moore, J Duane, T Fahy; T Flynn, F O Curraoin; C Doherty, M Hehir, M Boyle; D Cummins, P Sweeney, E Monahan.