Boston to host Ulster hurling final

The Ulster hurling final between Antrim and New York will finally be played in Boston on October 22nd.

The Ulster hurling final between Antrim and New York will finally be played in Boston on October 22nd.

The date and venue were mooted earlier this month but official confirmation came at last night's meeting of the Ulster Council's activities committee.

New York refused to play the original June final at Casement Park in Belfast amid suggestions some panel members were not properly documented and might be unable to re-enter the United States.

New York also cited the expense involved of providing accommodation and travel arrangements for some 40 panel members and officials.

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Antrim, in turn, were said to be unwilling to travel to New York because of the expense involved.

At one stage New York offered to finance Antrim's trip should they honour a game in August but the Ulster county was busy competing in the Christy Ring cup which they subsequently one.

Antrim are scheduled to travel to Boston anyway as their reward for winning the Christy Ring and, after a bitter dispute, New York have subsequently agreed to mark the date as the closing day of the Ulster Championship.

The fixture will be staged as a curtain-raiser to the inter-provincial finals.

New York, who joined the Ulster championship in 2001, reached the final following a shock semi-final win over Derry at Gaelic Park, New York.