I think that the Presidents comments on New York in the championship shows highlights the ambivalent attitude the the GAA has to its overseas teams- they are happy enough to have them on board because it makes the GAA look international ("look - we have teams competing from all over the world"), but they dont seem to want the hassle of the logistics that comes with having overseas teams. I dont know why the comments have to come out now, the week of the game. They have always known what the situation is with New York. IMHO, if you accept the fact that New York are going to be in the Championship, then you have to let them play all their games at home. Some of their players are illegal in America so they cant be expected to risk coming back to Ireland. So if you want to give New York a chance to compete, then it has to be in New York. If not, then dont put them in the championship in the first place.

anfearbeag (Meath) - Posts: 1134 - 27/04/2011 20:18:24    919488

Agreed. IF new york beat roscommon then sligo/leitrim should travel to nyc. I know this is expensive, maybe croke park could help out. some solution must be found. new york are going to beat a connacht team some day. i think its a great trip and its also a lifeline for the gaa and irish community over there.
the people over there love to see the connacht teams coming over - huge masses of immigration from connacht counties have entered america down the years.

the gaa is cultural not financial. thats what makes up special from every other sport on this planet.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11553 - 27/04/2011 20:31:54    919494

I second that beag man.
Also, if New York get their act together win a game (or 2), this would be a powerful scouting exercise for enticing young lads to New York. A couple of years from now they could be a very strong team indeed, if they aren't already.

muffin (Antrim) - Posts: 128 - 27/04/2011 20:47:16    919509

i 100% agree, he is being very bigoted in his assessment of NY and personally think he's looking for an excuse to not have NY particpate in the championship anymore. He is hoping that the footballers go the same route as the hurlers, win a game not be able to travel due to immigration policy. Also, how does he know that a weak team would travel? Has he checked all their papers and done his homework? I think not. In addition, it makes no sense to have only Roscommon particpate in the qualifiers. Why should NY not be allowed to do the same? Whats good for one, is good for all

sligolifer (Sligo) - Posts: 959 - 27/04/2011 20:53:44    919515

Yes misjudged timing by the president.....you tend to see this type of nonsense coming from officials and/or executive as they near their end of term in many walks of life.
Also given the current job situations at home there may be a few people not coming back should they find themselves flying to NYC for a match - I don't think Leitrim or Sligo would have spare cash to finance such a trip without having been planned, given that they have always fulfilled their turn to make the trip in the past

Number4 (Leitrim) - Posts: 32 - 27/04/2011 20:57:03    919517

I believe they should do away with the NY and London teams in the championship, as some of you have already alluded to, the GAA are only paying lip service to these teams, a purely cosmetic exercise and they bring nothing to the championship as a whole.

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 27/04/2011 21:11:15    919534

Agreed, we're supposed to be promoting the games internationally, pretty ill-thought comment by cooney.

stringbean (Tyrone) - Posts: 134 - 27/04/2011 21:15:23    919540

brendtheredhand...i disagree with your post, they have something very positive to offer the GAA as a whole, they offer those unfortunately to be unemployed a refuge for a place to work and play the game they love...NY and London have both shown they can be competitve in the championship and im sure if NY was exposed to the league in the same capacity London was, they would be just as well on par as them. They also provide a great structure for those underage lads and lassies to play a game of their heritage and by particpating in the championship, it gives them a future goal.

sligolifer (Sligo) - Posts: 959 - 27/04/2011 21:28:46    919546

sligolifer
County: Sligo
Posts: 133
_____________________________
Thats all very quaint and fluffy but its got no bearing on the current set up. Maybe some of the GAA clubs in Ireland could arrange jobs for the unemployed here who have decided to tough it out at home.

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 27/04/2011 21:41:28    919553

Silly comments by the President of the Association, God knows what they must think of him in New York

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3747 - 27/04/2011 21:54:48    919565

Will they give the Rossies a run for their money though? Face it, Galway were on the way down when they played NY last year. Roscommon have had a bit of a renaissance in the last year or so; Connacht championship and St Brigids making the club final and they gained promotion in the league. Okay, it was only division four, but they won a load of games and would have gained some confidence from winning. The loss to Longford and the quick turnaround for the NY game wont be helpful though.

Tongo (UK) - Posts: 1795 - 28/04/2011 08:02:25    919571

I think it would be wrong to take London and New York out of the Championship. I know that they will never progress too far against the semi professional counties at home. But the scene is bigger than championship matches. In these times the GAA in London New York etc are a very good base for our emigrants. Then we have the progress made by teams like Fulham Gaels in the junior championship and the London Ladies who have also won competitons in Croke Park.
Its not all about money. If it was we would be the FAI

N16Calling (UK) - Posts: 260 - 28/04/2011 09:18:48    919585

On the other hand, their minors are getting to play in Croke Park this weekend which is brilliant for everyone involved.

doublehop (Kildare) - Posts: 4172 - 28/04/2011 10:13:17    919608

Any players of any note that we might recognise playing for New York this year?

GerryD (Monaghan) - Posts: 337 - 28/04/2011 11:52:04    919673

Haha wait for the news lads after this game. US Imigration agents 15, New York GAA 0.
Our president has just sold out on the boys. The thing is I reckon that New York will have a great team if they win this match because their whole team will be sent back to Ireland after the game. Are they still able to tog out for NY when they get back?

Nick (Wexford) - Posts: 1100 - 28/04/2011 12:10:21    919686

I think Eli Manning will start. Word out there is he put in the hard work over the last few months, he'll hope to make up for last seasons disappointment.

OffalyBigBall (Offaly) - Posts: 635 - 28/04/2011 12:14:22    919693

Going to dive in here and expect to be well slated but.......

My main problem with New York competing in the Championship is the lack of "homegrown" players who make it on to the
so called Senior Team. A lot of funding was/is channeled into getting young players coached in the skills, running leagues etc.,
yet how many USA/New York born lads make it onto the team? I asked this on the NY forum last year or the year before and the
replies I got, was there were two homegrown players on the panel! Is it fair to bring lads on as footballers, train away, and they rarely get to
play because of the number of players from Ireland who end up there.

bogger from meath (Meath) - Posts: 226 - 28/04/2011 12:15:30    919694

just saw that robbie tasker from the armsgh minors of 09 is with them thats a huge loss to armagh unless he plans on coming back

stekhli (Dublin) - Posts: 3121 - 28/04/2011 12:16:55    919697

New York 12/1 to win and +8 in the bookies.After the scare they gave Galway last year,worth an outside bet i reckon.

fergie (Carlow) - Posts: 1119 - 28/04/2011 12:42:18    919718

The President's comments were not just ill judged but shows that the top brass in the GAA really see New York as a nuisance to be tolerated rather than a unit of the GAA to be promoted. Maybe yes the answer for now is if New York win then the next Connacht team should travel to New York. A connacht win would be a great boost for New York and would encourage more native born New Yorkers to play.
I agree you often get officials making statements about issues nearing the end of their tenure that they won't have to deal with, similar to Christy Cooney's statement about payments to managers.

lilywhite1 (Kildare) - Posts: 3027 - 28/04/2011 12:50:47    919729