Trump laws not helping as future of New York GAA in limbo

Not ideal.

Following the match, there will be a decision made on whether New York will continue to play in Connacht, where they have been since 1999.

The rising costs of travelling to the US has not helped, nor has the crackdown on long-term visas from Donald Trump's administration.

The latter has led to a decrease in athletes coming over from Ireland and committing to play for New York, as manager Ronan McGinley explained.

He said: “There has probably been a decline in the number of people coming out to the States. The majority of younger people in Ireland are looking towards Australia, if they are thinking of travelling or work abroad. It seems to be the bigger draw at the minute.

“Out here over the last couple of [presidential] terms, there has been a tightening up of visas, and particularly the longer-term visas. In recent years, there is a tendency for players coming out to get year-long, 18-month-long visas, so you are getting that player for a year.

“The longer-term visa, a three-year one, is harder to get. It is more of a lottery. Because of the lottery nature of it, players cannot make plans, cannot make long-term commitments to New York. It is maybe small potatoes to the life choices they have coming up.

“We have 23 who were involved last year and then 17 who have come in this time. Some of those have come up through the system, American born lads who were involved in the team last year.”