New York stadium project falls through

The GAA have abandoned their grand plans for a playing and cultural centre at the Randall's Island area of New York, writes Ian O'Riordan

The management committee have terminated negotiations with the City of New York and the board controlling the Randall's Island Gaelic Sport (RIGS) project and are looking at alternative locations.

Attempts to develop a suitable GAA stadium in the city have been ongoing for several years, but Central Council recently agreed, given mutually acceptable investment and leasing arrangements, to commit $2 million to the Randall's Island project.

The GAA give five reasons for the collapse of negotiations: the 20-year licence offered by the City was inadequate; pitches would not always be available on Saturday and Sunday afternoons; the GAA has no control over RIGS; the investment required is prohibitively high; the ongoing rent is prohibitively high.

"It's a disappointment alright," said GAA president Seán Kelly yesterday, "because we had put a lot of effort into it. And we were willing to put up €2 million and possibly more. But we'd been holding out for the small print . . . and when we finally got it, it just wasn't to our satisfaction."

Kelly also spoke of the pending appointment of the new national hurling development manager, and while he formally announced he would not be a candidate, he didn't rule out some involvement.

Eighteen applied and interviews begin shortly.

"I've told them now to go ahead and make the appointment," said Kelly, whose tenure as president ends in April. "I just felt being president, and having created the HDC that are now making the appointment, it wouldn't be right for me to go for it."

Elsewhere, Ross Munnelly will find out today if can play in the Sigerson Cup finals for DCU. The Laois forward missed the quarter-final win over Garda College last week because of a ban imposed by the central authority of the competition some weeks ago, but DCU have appealed to the Central Appeals Committee.

DCU claim Munnelly has the required educational credits and should be allowed play in Friday's semi-final against UCC.