• Physiotherapists
• Dental/Gum Shield Clinics
• Coach Hire
• Accessories
• Accommodation
• Ground Development

Football in Chicago
Again this summer if anyone is interested in coming to Chicago and playing football you can contact us at: padraig_pearse_chicago@hotmail.com

You can also check us out on facebook or twitter.
pearses_chicago , 03/02/2012 at 20:40

Standard of football in US
Shinkicker - Not for nothing but you do spout some drivel
Fact 1. New York have recieved the same allocation of All Ireland tickets for many years. Participation in the Connacht Championship has not or does not result in one extra ticket for the officers.
Fact 2. New York has never been a part of the NACB so for you to suggest that they go back to it suggests a complete lack of knowledge on your part.
Are you seriously suggesting that after securing Gaelic Park as their own for the first time ever that the GAA should now finish up in August rather than October? How would you suggest that Gaelic Park gets paid for? I eagerly await your enlightened reponse but suspect that I would get much better information from Pinnochio.
GPlifer , 03/02/2012 at 17:38

Standard of football in US
i see theres colleges playing gaelic football now in the states ... is there scholarships or anything for younf gaa players willing to go over ?
northsidegael , 03/02/2012 at 10:15

Standard of football in US
@greenhead: There would have to be a change in the rules to even allow players from Boston become part of an "All-American" team that could participate in the All Ireland competition. That aside, the NY team gathers together as a malfunctioning rabble each spring and manages only a few half-hearted training sessions in preparation for the Connaught game. How any form of proper training can be managed when you include players from cities 3 hours north and south of Gaelic Park is impossible.

As many have said, the annual dog and pony show that goes on each May needs to end. The board members will have to make do with less All Ireland final tickets and cut the ties with the GAA (as Dublin and Connaught would no doubt love) and become part of the NACB again. Rewarding winning teams with a trip to Denver, Philly, Chicago or where ever the championships are held in a given year. It gets the NY games over by the end of August rather than dragging on into October. It gives teams an aim and reward for winning. It unifies the games in America. It stops disrespecting and embarrassing the sport by the double digit hammerings ever year.
Shinkicker , 01/02/2012 at 13:19

Standard of football in US
Standard in the US seems to have dropped substantially. Obviously the visa issue is hampering the amount of 'home-based' players. i.e the players that stay beyond the summer months. While London is benefitting from the influx of players and standard is improving. New York is getting worse! I have heard that the New York 'County' team is not going to continue in the championship next year. Surely a team made up of Boston, Philly and New York cud be managed and would provide a better opposition for the visiting Irish Connacht counter parts.
greenhead , 31/01/2012 at 21:18

Standard of football in US
If you have 2 MacRory's and you weren't number 34 each year, you'll walk onto any team in America. Though why you would want to is another matter.
Shinkicker , 31/01/2012 at 17:29

Standard of football in US
i was wondering what level you would have to be to get on? i have two mccrory cup medals but people say that it is a very high standard ?
kclawd , 29/01/2012 at 18:45

North American Finals 2012
Where exactly will the North American Finals be played this year, know its in Philly but trying to plan ahead for hotel etc
The Cool , 29/01/2012 at 17:59

Is the end in sight?
I've been reading this thread for a bit now. I'm not in New York and I've heard it said that without players coming over, the games just aren't that entertaining, and it gives youngsters something to aspire to. I understand that. There are only a few American born players that I know who can compete at Senior. And, I've seen them hold their own. We seem to agree that American's standards aren't up to the most entertaining levels. We've identified the problem, but what are we going to do about it? There are multitudes of other sports that American youth have to choose from. Why can't football or hurling be among them?
kilflynn , 18/01/2012 at 18:16

Is the end in sight?
Well said shinkicker. I couln't have put it better myself. You make a lot of sense.
phanatic , 18/01/2012 at 17:52

Is the end in sight?
I have to agree with Northie. Eliminating temporary sanctions from Ireland will be the death of Gaelic football in NY. No one can deny the sharp decline in standard and support seen in GP on a Sunday since weekenders were outlawed, let alone reducing summer recruits.

There simply is not enough bodies or interest to support a fully homegrown league. Think of all the Irish born players who will be retiring in the next few years. Who will replace them? An amateur sport, terribly supported in terms of facilities and expertise, stands zero chance against baseball, soccer, football, basketball et al, not to mention college life itself.

There is no point getting excited about a group of kids in Paddy's field on a Sunday. 99% of those kids will never follow through to a senior level. They go because their parents make them. That ends once they get older.

Who is going to coach these kids? The current crop of coaches can't do it forever. There is no system to refresh the pool of players or coaches and with permanent, legal emigrants almost non existent it won't improve.

You need a half dozen, decent players from Ireland and then fill out the 15 with hardy, 40yr old veterans and a handful of gangly 17yr old basketball stars. C'est la vie.

Summer sanctions are a necessity The payments, the mollycoddling and the star treatment? A means to an end.
Shinkicker , 18/01/2012 at 12:21

Is the end in sight?
what players are you on about Faha? I know of only a few good young american players, the likes of carty, and molloy, but their is not enough that would be able to play at senior level, their is barely enough at junior level. The 6 sanctions coming in, help entertainment in the park, and are part of what makes New york a special place in the summer and make the games worth while, lets be realistic here.
northie_chap , 17/01/2012 at 10:28

Is the end in sight?
You are missing the point. Senior football in both Philly and Chicago was made to be totally dependent on summer players. Senior football in Boston is the same. The emphasis is on winning at any cost.
Club management was not satisfied with fielding teams made up of residents. It started slowly and eventually the senior teams were predominately imports. Some of these teams were as good as some county teams. They forgot that they were supposed to be club teams. NAB finals are played the last week in August and the players depart (richer). When the funds dry up so will the teams.
The same was happening in New York. However at a meeting this week of the senior division it was reported that proposals were made to reduce the number of imports to four with a view to eventually eliminating them entirely. Focus is to be on developing New York based teams. This is a surprising and welcome development.

Perhaps after all the end is no longer in sight for the NY board.
Faha2 , 13/01/2012 at 17:41

Orlando Florida Hurling Club
The Orlando Hurling Club will be having an exhibition match on Jan 14th at 2pm at the Central Florida Highland Games in Winter Park. Come on out and support Hurling in the sunshine state. more info at our website www.orlando.florida.gaa.ie
flacat , 08/01/2012 at 19:03

GAA Team Bonding/Training weekends
Check out the Break for Ball Winter newsletter, and read about the Dublin Club who headed to Belfast for a Team Building Weekend, enroute to winning
their Senior Championship.

http://www.breakforball.com/news/details/?id=42
Breakforball , 07/01/2012 at 13:16

Boston Northeast season in review
http://www.tharantrasnan.blogspot.com/2012/01/2011-senior-hurling-championship-best.html
Dublinculchie , 06/01/2012 at 16:39

Is the end in sight?
I see sligolifer very skilfully changed the subject to the NY management. Must have been touching on a couple of sore points he/she didn't want any further discussion. Subtle as a bucket of slurry.
But honestly are you surprised regarding the NY job. It should be on that TV series "Dirtiest Jobs" with the Ford guy. Two competitive games a year, success measured if you kept the crushing defeat below 20 points, and then a 3 month debate about whether it's a worthwhile endeavour or not. Who in their right mind would want it?
phanatic , 05/01/2012 at 15:08

Is the end in sight?
There has to be more people in for the New York job? Heard Sweeney wasn't interested in getting it!! Connie would be the pick of them.
nedonmclean , 05/01/2012 at 11:39

Is the end in sight?
really not much of a selection there, sweeney has done about the best he could do,, kyne has been trying for years to get it and dowd has never managed before so glad to see so many top candidates out there
sligolifer , 04/01/2012 at 18:14

Is the end in sight?
The managers going for the NY job are Eugene Kyne, Gary Dowd, Connie Molloy, and Seamus Sweeney
Between kyne and Dowd,
Ladygaa , 04/01/2012 at 12:29