Seamus Dooley, the New York GAA County Board chairman, has said today they are prepared to meet all of the Antrim players' and officials' travel expenses to play the Ulster Hurling Championship final in New York rather than the scheduled fixture at Casement Park in Belfast.
The impasse arose when The Exiles said they were unable to honour the fixture because of cost (in the region of $1800 per man), then time off work became an issue before visa issues became the problem as players' said they would encounter difficulties gaining re-entry to the US after the proposed June 4th final.
Furthermore Dooley said he would write to the Ulster Council to officially request a postponement of the clash as New York could not possibly meet the date.
The Ulster Council met last night and voted not to change the date and venue of the final after New York suggested the move to the Gaelic Grounds in New York.
"We've had previous discussions with New York about the possibility of changing dates and venues and when we went to our counties the view was taken that the June 4th should not be changed," said Danny Murphy, Ulster Council secretary.
"When New York qualified last Sunday they put in a request for postponement. That was a major decision for us, especially given that no clear alternative was offered," added Murphy, noting that Antrim also have a busy schedule and can realistically expect to still be competing through into August.
Murphy said there was "sympathy for New York's plight" within the province but the fact remains the fixture must be played at Casement Park.
The saga casts further doubt on the interests of hurling in New York and their ongoing participation in the championship.