New York make Antrim an offer they might not refuse

Ulster hurling final: The New York GAA Board haven't given up hope of contesting this year's Ulster hurling final and they have offered to play the game in August and to fly the Antrim squad to New York.

New York beat Derry in New York last Sunday to qualify to meet Antrim in the Ulster final, but for several reasons - including immigration concerns - are unable to travel for the game. The Ulster Council then turned down their request for a two-week postponement insisting that the match must go ahead in Belfast on Sunday week.

"We have appealed to both the Ulster Council and the Antrim County Board to look again at the situation," said New York chair Seamus Dooley. "We have suggested to them that there are at least two free Sundays in August, and there's no reason why the game can't be played then. Antrim will be kept in good shape by playing in the Christy Ring Cup, with matches most Sundays, and it will be up to us to keep training until then.

"But because the winners of the Ulster championship aren't going into the MacCarthy Cup there's no big hurry on it this year. So we'd be willing to pay all of Antrim's expenses again to get them here on one of those Sundays. Airfares, accommodation, the lot. What people don't realise is that we pay those costs for all teams that come here since we entered the Ulster hurling championship. We pay the entire costs for the 36 members of the teams, and last Sunday's match with Derry cost us $30,000 alone.

"But we don't mind that. Once the game is played here we don't mind paying for it. We've been trying for years to promote hurling here in New York, and now that we win something we get a slap in the face like this. If we were in the situation where we could travel of course we would have no hesitation in doing so. We'd be back in the morning."

Dooley hasn't been playing down the suggestion certain members of the New York panel mightn't be properly documented and therefore unable to gain re-entry to the US: "Everybody knows the reasons we can't come home, but we obviously can't make it an immigration issue. But the New York GAA have some very good friends in Antrim, and hopefully they'll see our side on this.

"I'm planning on being back for a meeting with the Ulster Council and the Antrim board on June 2nd, and I'll be explaining to them exactly where we stand. So we're still hopeful this game can be played, and that Antrim will have a change of heart and come to New York."