The New York GAA are to seek a postponement of the Ulster hurling final for which their seniors qualified at the weekend. Ulster secretary Danny Murphy was adamant, however, that the final remains fixed for Casement Park on Sunday week.
"The last time we discussed the prospect of New York getting to the final it was confirmed that the match would go ahead in Casement Park, as originally planned."
Murphy was responding to suggestions that New York, who defeated Derry in the weekend's provincial semi-final - a first victory for the exiles since they joined the Ulster championship in 2001 - would have trouble travelling to Belfast because members of the panel weren't properly documented and might be unable to gain re-entry to the US.
Antrim were said to be unwilling to travel to New York because of the expense involved.
"That's highly unfair to both Antrim and the provincial council," said Murphy. "New York are guaranteed a home semi-final every year, which is something that no other county gets. Even Antrim don't, despite Casement Park being in the county because we stage all senior championship matches in Casement."
London also play in Ulster but their home matches are organised on a home and away basis with Antrim, Down and Derry playing London on a six-year cycle home and away.
"London asked if they could play some of their matches in front of their home support and we took the decision to allow them operate a rota but New York are the only side that get a guaranteed home match every year."
Séamus Dooley, chair of the New York Board, spoke on RTÉ Radio's Five Seven Live, about the situation facing the players and confirmed that he was looking for a postponement of the final. Asked whether the team included people without visa authorisation, he declined to answer.
"It's none of our business. We don't go to a player and ask how are you fixed here. We all know where the problem lies. That would be a big concern of ours. We're not going to put any player under that pressure.
"But one thing, if one goes we all go. There'll be no player left behind if we decide that we're going home.
"We said yesterday in the dressingroom before we went out: 'Look lads, if we win this we'll jump the next bridge when we get to it.
"We won the match and it's only a day after. We hope to have a meeting tonight and to invite the players and the management and discuss the ins and outs and what's best for the New York team.
"There's no question about it. There'd be a unanimous decision to go back to Belfast. The question is 'can we'?"
According to Murphy the granting of a postponement would be problematic now that Antrim have regraded into the Christy Ring Cup.
"We'll have to meet quickly on this, as soon as we receive the application for postponement but the Ring Cup starts the week after the Ulster final on June 11th. Antrim are due to play Down so the schedules are full."
He also warned that the complications attending New York's participation might raise questions.
"It's quite a problem for the county involved in travelling to New York. Players have to be cleared for five days; normally a county doesn't have to overnight for a provincial championship match. This will focus attention again on the fact of New York coming directly into the championship."
