All-Ireland winner to line out in fifth tier hurling semi despite opponents rage
It's a story that has escaped the attention of many in the GAA world, but that could all change tomorrow afternoon as New York face Monaghan in the Lory Meagher Cup semi-final at Cusack Park Mullingar.
New York haven't played a game in the competition but have been entered straight into the semi-finals of the fifth tier hurling Championship.
Listed at number 10 for New York is one Jonathan Glynn, the towering Galway 2017 All-Ireland winner, with at least one Monaghan defender likely to be in for a tough afternoon in the Midlands againast the highly accomplished Ardrahan man.
Also listed to start is former Cork player Sean O'Leary-Hayes, one of a number of former county senior and underage players.
The fear is that New York - 1/100 on with the bookies - will be far too strong for anyone in the Meagher Cup with Monaghan as 12/1 outsiders to turn over the Statesiders.
Monaghan have played five games in this year's Meagher Cup, winning three, drawing one and losing one, with Cavan already in the final by virtue of topping the table.
Questions are already being asked about New York's inclusion in the competition and the level they're entering at.
It looks like Nicky Rackard would have been a better grade, or even Christy Ring, in light of New York winning the Connacht Hurling League earlier this year, where they defeated Mayo in the final.
It's likely though that New York had to enter the competition at the lowest tier.
New York also enjoy special treatment for football's Tailteann Cup, by virtue of the logistics involved for everyone in playing matches which they're involved in.
They don't compete in the round robin part of the Tailteann Cup, but replace the lowest ranked third placed side in the four team groups, entering at the preliminary quarter-final stage.
Speaking to Gaelic Life, Monaghan manager Arthur Hughes slammed the decision to include New York at the semi-final stage of the Meagher Cup.
Hughes pointed to a GAA discussion document last year that proposed getting rid of the five weakest inter-county hurling sides from the National Hurling League and using the money saved to boost club hurling.
Hughes called the New York decision 'an absolute disgrace,' adding 'It's not that long ago that the GAA were trying to get rid of five counties in Ireland from playing in the National League and now they next thing they've done is bring in New York.
'It's an absolute joke, in my opinion. You don't know what you're coming up against, what level they're at, and it's completely unfair to just fly a team into the semi-finals.
'If you're going to participate in a competition, you should be there from the start.'
NEW YORK (Lory Meagher Cup v Monaghan): Daniel Mottram, Eanna Barry, Henry Keyes, James Cronin Roger, Darren O'Donoghue, Darragh Moran, Sean O'Leary-Hayes, Tom O'Meara, Darragh Walsh, Jonathan Glynn, David Mangan, Aidan James Willis, Gerard McPartland, Adam Loughlin Stones, Cian Mullane.
SUBS: Colin O'Brien, James Bermingham, James Breen, Darragh Hynes, Conor O'Shea, Harry O'Connor, Cian Murray, Tomas O'Connor, Conor Hammersley, Joseph Diggins.
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