Dreadful news out of New York these days. Sure, it's grand that the hurling team has done so well, but now there's a bit of a snag.
They've made it to the provincial final, to the joy of all their fans, but unfortunately the final is held in Casement Park. Yes, that Casement Park, the one in Belfast. Now, ordinarily, it would not be such a great problem, but with the recent crackdown on illegal immigration, about half of the team is afraid that they won't get back in if they go to Belfast.
Any coach can tell you that you need good players to make a winning team, and the recruitment drive did a run around the INS. Sean McEvoy, a bar owner in Yonkers, has been charged with bringing in a Gaelic football player illegally, while Phillip Reilly is in hot water over his scheme to get three players into New York and Philadelphia, illegally again. Of course the New York GAA chairman knows nothing, officially, but he's put in for a delay of game and a request that the match be relocated to New York. Many in the GAA are annoyed, since everyone knew since October that the finals were scheduled for Belfast.
So there they are, skilled hurlers one and all, but they can't leave the country. 'Tis a sad day, indeed, to have worked so hard to get so far, only to be told that the door will be locked behind you when you go. Dermot Ahern has come to Washington to lobby on behalf of illegal Irish immigrants, but his hands are tied when it comes to the boys of the GAA.
Ideally, the Ulster GAA secretary will come to his senses and realize that it's much better to spend a week in New York than five minutes in Belfast. Relocate the site of the match, bring the wife and kids, and everyone's happy. Not so bad a trade-off, is it?
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