By Pierce O’Reilly
The decision by the North American County Board not to sanction the all-star football challenge between New York and Boston last weekend reeked of barroom politics. Pub politics, that is, and it robbed the cream of the crop of U.S. footballers of the unique opportunity to showcase their prowess before a welcoming crowd.
It was game that GAA exiles wanted to see. Boston pitted against archrivals and bitter enemies New York. The hand of friendship has been extended between New York president Monty Moloney and the Boston GAA leader, John McDevitt, of late yet their efforts to bring the neighboring cities closer together has not being welcomed by the NACB.
The parent organization apparently can’t bury the hatchet and it’s obvious that old wounds of latter years are are still not fully healed. Indeed, if the lack of communication and unwillingness to progress as a unit continues — it is unlikely that the gashes will ever heal.
Moloney has ruffled a lot of feathers since his arrival at the top table, yet he has a clear vision for the future. "I’m very disappointed that we didn’t get the chance to play the game," he said. " Apart from the battle on the field, it would have also given us the chance to meet with our fellow GAA promoters in Boston and that can only be good for the game."
The NACB will tell you that they hadn’t really any problem with the game going ahead, it was just the way the two cities went on a solo run on the issue. That may be true, but the issue of New York’s progression at the expense of the rest of the U.S. GAA is a sore point at the best of times. Then again, the talk coming out of Boston is that they are carrying the NACB on their back and may indeed go on their own solo run very soon.
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While the NACB have the support of Chicago, San Francisco and a host of smaller regional cities, if they lose progressive Boston, their decision not to sanction the all-star clash will more than likely return to haunt them.
Gortaithe I dtimpist
A lot has been taken away from Donegal senior footballer Donal "Dods" Breslin and there is no way of ever getting it back. Breslin’s spirit isn’t the same this season as he stands idle on the sidelines at Gaelic Park watching his teammates win another battle in his honor.
A native G’ilge speaker from the small rural parish of Gweedore in Northwest Donegal, Breslin hasn’t kicked a ball in almost a year. A wing forward on the New York team that played Galway in the Connaught championship last year, and instrumental in Donegal’s senior success a short time later, the g’ilgoir spends more time now on the physio’s table than on the football field.
"The disks in my back are destroyed," he said recently as he urged on his teammates from the shadow of the stand at Gaelic Park.
"Now we’re playing football, lads," he roared as another point sailed between the white sticks near the dressing room end at Gaelic Park. "God, I’d love to be out there with Cummins, Loughran and Lily," he said, knowing it probably won’t happen at all this year.
Breslin, who hurt his back playing in last year’s final, is one of the most dedicated GAA players ever to pull on a New York county jersey. Living on Staten Island with his wife, Denise, he never was late for training in Van Cortlandt or Gaelic Park. Two tolls and often two hours in traffic, Breslin didn’t complain.
"Football is my life, Jesus, I can’t wait to get back," he said.
He sputtered as Peter Loughran rattled the net again for another Donegal goal.
"Back" is a word Breslin will hear again and again over the summer months. A lot of the time he’ll be on his back, as he tries everything possible to rectify the problems that have dogged his career over the last year. The road back to Gaelic Park is also up hill right now, but like everything in his life, if Breslin says he’ll be there, you can put your life savings on it. The Gweedore man won’t let you down.
The final whistle has just sounded and Breslin has sprinted out on to the field like a young greyhound, hugging his teammates after another facile success. The interview is obviously over; football has taken over, not for the first time in Breslin’s life.
Top 10 football scorers
Peter Loughran (Donegal), 2-8; Bingo Driscoll (Kerry), 2-4; Kevin Touhy (Mayo), 1-4; Paddy O’Connor (Kerry), 1-4; Denis Driscoll (Clare), 0-6; Fisher Fitzgerald (Rockland), 1-3; Brendan Moran (Offaly), 1-3; Jamie Driscoll (Kerry), 1-3; Evan Kelly (Stamford), 1-3; Brian Flood (Cork), 0-5.
Top 10 hurling scorers
Jonathon O’Callaghan