New York plan early escape route

One of the counties in the first round of the new losers qualifying group in the football championship is set to benefit from a bye following the news yesterday that New York will not be participating should they lose to Roscommon in Hyde Park tomorrow evening.

New York - assuming they lose to Roscommon - were originally scheduled to play London in the preliminary game of the losers' group, reducing the number of teams that go into the losers round to 16.

But it is also expected that London will not be allowed to participate in that game as a result of the foot-and-mouth problem denying them the chance to play Mayo.

A final decision on the London matter won't be made until the GAA's Games Administration Committee meet next Wednesday evening, but New York board president Monty Moloney said yesterday unless they manage to beat Roscommon they won't play any further role in the championship.

"We will hardly benefit from staying around for that losers' group," said Moloney. "We are still disappointed that Roscommon were unable to travel to New York to play us, but if we fall here then we will be heading back to New York. Hopefully the arrangements next year will make it different."

Expenses were the main problem there, but last month the Connacht Council came to an arrangement where the five teams in the province would travel to New York for the opening championship game for the next five consecutive years.

The unfortunate situation with London is almost certain to prevent them from entering the losers' group. The foot-and-mouth problem in England brought about the Connacht Council's decision not to press ahead with the Mayo-London game in Ruislip, and the GAC are likely to follow a similar line.

As a result, the losers' group is now likely to comprise of 15 counties rather than 16. And that, according to GAC chairman Pauric Duffy, would result in one of the teams drawn benefiting from a bye into the second round of the qualifying group.

The New York team for tomorrow, meanwhile, will feature seven of the players that fell to Galway last year. Goalkeeper Eunan Doherty, defenders Owen Cummins, Kieran Walsh and Martin Slowey, midfielder Gary Dowd, and forwards Philip Sloan and Paddy O'Connor all played a part in the 10point loss in Tuam last June.

Among the experienced players to come into this year's line-up is Donegal's Niall McGreedy, Kerry's Bingo O'Driscoll and Armagh's Peter O'Loughran. John O'Driscoll, also of Kerry, would have been a certain starter had injury not got in the way. Kevin Lilly is the only native New York player in the starting line-up.

The opening of the new floodlit grounds at Simonstown Gaels in Navan will be celebrated tomorrow evening (7.0) with a challenge game between Meath and All-Ireland champions Kerry. The game will also be Meath's final test of form before their championship opener against Westmeath on June 3rd.

NEW YORK (SF v Roscommon): E Doherty (Donegal); B Kelly (Down), O Cummins (Tipperary), K Walsh (Down); PJ Lanigan (Tipperary), M Slowey (Monaghan), N McGreedy (Donegal); P Maloney (Cork), G Dowd (Donegal); P Sloan (Down), P O'Connor (Kerry), B O'Driscoll (Kerry); K Lilly (New York), P Loughran (Armagh), J O'Driscoll (Kerry).