By Pierce O’Reilly
The GAA player hunt is over for most clubs in the North American championship with the passing of the April 30 deadline for Ireland-based players.
Some clubs that failed to gain adequate troops in the offseason are in serious trouble, while others are basking in the sunshine and boasting about their new artillery.
The Boston GAA board is brimming with confidence and, according to PRO Connie Kelly, expect a great season. "Any of the eight teams presently in the senior football division could win the championship, and, to be honest, the same can be said for the hurling championship," he said.
Kelly is well aware of the present player influx. He has witnessed the emergence of several new championship contenders and with the pre-season cup competition throwing up some interesting clashes, he is confident that the season ahead will be better than those that have passed.
"It’s great to see the cream of the crop of players arriving," Kelly said. "It shows us on the board that Boston is still regarded as one of the top GAA cities in the U.S."
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The pre-season cup competitions at Canton are gradually grinding to a halt in Boston, and with the summer season slowly creeping upon us, all teams have returned to training. Elsewhere, in Chicago, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Buffalo and San Francisco, to name but a few, club teams are emerging from their winter slumber with a renewed hope for the season that lies ahead.
"You really never know how the season will work out," said Kelly, who leads the Boston Kerry club. "If you get a bit of luck along the way, you could find yourself in the playoffs and then anything can happen."
The warm breezes are mingling mildly with GAA managers in many U.S cities at present. The phone lines and phone bills may be mellowing for the next few weeks, but the student influx will once again raise the temperature in the first two weeks of June. For those who have acquired the right men for battle, the future looks bright.
Boston’s Galway hurling club is one of them. Offaly’s dynamic goal poacher, Johnny Pilkington, will don the maroon jersey over the summer months while the faithful at home will miss him. Tipperary hurlers are also quite content. Burley Tipp full forward Paul Shelley has decided to stay for the championship. The Premier County may be on a roll at home, but they’ll have to continue without Shelley. The Munster kingpins will also have the services of ace marksman and last year’s top scorer in Boston’s Chris Dunne. The Gortnahoe/Glencollie native will also have his club mate Darren Coady by his side for assistance this summer.
GAA fans worldwide would pay anything to see all-star and Galway native Michael Donnellan in full flight later this summer. It may happen yet, but while they wait, his younger brother Christopher will have to do. The ex-St. Jarlath’s star and Dunmore native will line out for the Connemara Gaels club this year. They will also have Carraroe and Galway senior Micheal O’Domhnaill, who won championship and league medals with his club before his departure.
In Chicago, Tuam Stars defender Carl Donlon has signed for the St. Brendan’s club. The Galway native, who lined out beside Ja Fallon two years ago in the Connaught champions, will bolster the North American champions greatly. He will line out beside Kildare and Leinster footballer Niall Buckley, who has remained in the Windy City.
In Philadelphia, the Derry and Tyrone clubs have lots of homework done. Both have acquired several valuable home-based players. Donaghmore’s Declan Hackett will play for the Derry club in Philly this summer, while three Rock St. Pat’s players from Tyrone signed for Derry.
In San Francisco, the Ulster club are to the fore of late, and with Declan Rafferty from Dundoran in Donegal moving to them this year, they should remain at the helm. The prospect of a place in the North American championships and a fabulous weekend of football guaranteed in San Francisco later this summer means most team managers are dreaming of victory speeches. For most, however, the speechifying will be done on the sidelines alone.