February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Last year saw the effects of reverse immigration and the welcome reality of an increasingly self-sufficient Ireland hit the New York GAA hard.
New York clubs, for so long able to rely on a steady stream of footballers and hurlers landing on our shores and filling up team sheets, have seen that tap tightened and the flow slow to a trickle.
Several clubs simply could not exist on the diminished supply and reluctantly opted to fold. It’s never an easy thing for a club to do and Fermanagh and Tyrone chose to join forces in an effort to keep the flags flying.
Stamford, SFA Champions just a few short years ago, and Roscommon both found two teams one too many, and opted to compete in only the Junior Football A division.
As tough as it was on the cities football clubs, Ireland’s ancient sport of hurling really took it on the chin. Three venerable teams, Limerick, Westmeath and Clare, with 19 titles between them, saw no option but to throw in the towel, while the Junior division remained in a perpetual state of limbo. No matches were played, no teams seem to exist, but the division has never been formally dissolved.
Still, it wasn’t all gloom and doom. The disgrace of the unplayed 2004 final and its aftermath receded and supporters got the final they were craving, albeit a year late, with Kerry finally topping Cavan in an entertaining contest.
Other highlights were provided by New York’s scrappy band of hurlers. The Gotham squad, playing a man down, outscored Antrim 1-6 to 0-3 over the final 29 minutes to force extra time. In the extra session New York had three more men shown the line, and Antrim avoided becoming the answer to a trivia question.
After a solid League campaign filled with competitive matches among New York’s six remaining clubs, Kilkenny/New Jersey etched their name on the New York honor role for the first time.
Christy Ring Cup winners Westmeath traveled to New York but found the home side to be rude hosts. As Mayor Bloomberg looked on from the Gaelic Park bleachers, New York were too good for the Midlanders as they secured the inaugural Eddie Burke Cup.
Derry were unbeatable in the SFB Group, capping a perfect season with a matter of fact dismantling of Cork in the Final and the Oak Leaf men should prove an asset to the SFA division in 2006.
St. Barnabas were finally rewarded for their years of hard work when they claimed the JFA Title and earned a spot in the SFB ranks, while Offaly, so often the bridesmaid at the SFB level, finally picked up some silverware when they annexed the JFB Championship.
Going against the grain the FDNY joined the JFB division and the Smoke eaters did well enough to qualify the playoffs.
The first ever New York football and hurling awards were a big hit with players and fans alike and should become an annual highlight in the coming years.
New year, new issues
So where does all this leave the New York GAA as we enter the New Year?
Seamus Dooley remains at helm for a second year, returned by delegates who apparently appreciated his grassroots style. During his first year as the chairman, Dooley concentrated on the basics.
On the pitch, New York’s county teams have a chance to make some noise come spring. The New York footballers that have taken heavy defeats from Mayo and Galway, both the cream of the crop in Connaught, these last two years get a bit of a break when Roscommon come to town this year.
Under manager Barry O’Neill, New York has made some progress. The Tyrone man took over after the Mayo debacle and led the squad to their first FBD league title that autumn with a well-deserved victory over Sligo.
New York should have no trouble getting up for Roscommon after the Rosses were fortunate to get past London in last year’s Championship. But New York would be foolish to read too much into the London match. Roscommon are now under the steely gaze of former Mayo supremo John Maughn who is very familiar with the New York experience and can be expected have his side well prepared.
This is the final year of the agreement between New York and Connaught and a poor effort from the exiles could put New York under pressure to justify their place in the All Ireland series in the future.
This year the New York hurlers could find themselves in the unusual role of favorites. After last year’s near-miss against Antrim and their exciting win over Westmeath, the bar has been raised for the Gotham hurlers.
With no Ulster counties in the first division this season’s Ulster Champions will find themselves frozen out of the All Ireland Championship. Speculation has the Ulster Final being moved to New York in what could be a coup for the local Association.
Assuming the New York delegates approve the Donegal/Philadelphia team, competition should also be fierce in the New York top flight.
Clubs at all levels will have to spend their money wisely and choose their sanctions carefully to make up for the dearth of players moving full time to New
York. With teams having to rely so heavily on sanction players, many of them students due back in Ireland in September, it may finally be time for the New York GAA to shorten the season.