FOOTBALLERS and hurlers in New York have founded a representative body, the New York GAA Players Association, to lobby against the extent of transatlantic traffic in players from Ireland to compete in the state.

Last year saw much controversy about the numbers and questionable legality of intercounty players flying in for the concluding rounds of the New York championships. This led to local players being dropped, in favour of star imports, despite having helped their respective teams progress as far as they did.

Kerry born Dermot Randles, one of the association's organisers, is quoted in the Irish Voice expressing the local discontent. "Many of us feel that the championships have been taken away from local players and handed instead to major players from Ireland, which just isn't fair."

The result of last year's senior football final between Donegal and Leitrim was annulled because of irregularities in the victorious Leitrim line up. Problems largely arise from the ease with which players can be sanctioned by the relevant authorities in Ireland for a weekend transfer to New York.

This authorisation takes no account of whether the players satisfy local regulations, which state that Irish based players may only be played in the play offs if they have already played for the same team during the preliminary rounds. Consequently, many players who have played illegally in New York cannot be disciplined at home, provided their journey was approved by the relevant county board and Croke Park.

"There are lot of good quality players who are calling it quits because they're being denied their chance of a little bit of glory," says Randles in the same interview.

The paper also quotes Ray O'Brien, player manager of the Waterford team in New York, who admits to having fielded illegal players in the past. "I have broken the rules to win because as a manager you re under certain pressures to do so" he says. "I have dropped local guys, and to be honest I don't feel good about that."

Nonetheless, both Randles and O'Brien believe that imported players should continue to be allowed, but with restrictions. The Wicklow v Limerick National Football League game to be played on Sunday has been transferred from Aughrim to Baltinglass owing to ground conditions.