It’s now or never.
Brendan Murphy is headed for America and, in the process, leaving Carlow midseason.
The rise in the county under the stewardship of Turlough O’Brien has been inspiring. A rattling of Dublin set the stage for them to go on and put three championship wins together. What followed? Promotion to Division Three, a final at Croke Park, Carlow lifted off its knees.
There’s genuine excitement around the place now and that extends beyond the county’s 346 square miles. There’s a feeling that they could do something, keep doing something rather, and, because of that, others have hope.
Leinster SFC first round
Louth v Carlow
Portaloise, May 13
But after achieving their first objective – in fairness, their main objective of the season – Carlow are hit with a hammer blow before the championship with the news that their stalwart midfielder is heading across the Atlantic.
Time will tell how Brendan looks back on his decision https://t.co/CU1g5bjHas
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) April 24, 2018
The thing about being a good player is that you’re not really allowed to do anything else but be a good player.
You’re expected to be there all the time, you’re expected to deliver all the time, and you have to do it even if you’re injured or not. When a lesser player pisses off, no big deal. When someone like Brendan Murphy tries to go, it’s national headlines and one county’s collective outcry.
So the questions of big Brendan are ‘why now?’ Why go before the championship? Why in the middle of the season? Why not just wait until Carlow are out?
Well, the answer is simple. If he waited until Carlow were out, he couldn’t go to America – even if Carlow were out in June.
To transfer to the USA, the rules are updated but still simple.
You must obtain a sanction
A player intending to play on a longer term basis in the area governed by one of the following Boards – the New York Board or the Canadian Board – must obtain an Official Sanction from Central Council.
A player intending to play on a longer term basis in the area governed by the USGAA board (formerly North American) must obtain an Official Sanction or an Official J1 Sanction from Central Council.
HOWEVER…
If you’re on an inter-county championship squad list, you cannot transfer
Note – A player who has been included on an Inter-County Senior Championship list submitted to the Referee, in accordance with Rules of Specification 2.5 (ii)(a) for a game in the current year’s Championship shall not be eligible to be accepted for Registration as a member of any Club in the North American County Board Jurisdiction.
Unless you’re eligible for a J1
Exception – A player who has been included on an Inter-County Senior Championship list submitted to the Referee, in accordance with Rules of Specification 2.5 (ii)(a), for a game in the current year’s Championship, who holds a valid current J1 Visa or who is eligible for a J1 Visa and who obtains an Official J1 Sanction may be accepted for registration.
So, basically, if Brendan Murphy plays one minute of championship football wth Carlow – if he’s even on the squad list for championship for any game – he will not be able to register for a club in America. Period (that’s just a shit American reference, not actually serious).
