Diarmuid Connolly won't be able to play for club or county for 30 days after his proposed summer move to the Donegal Boston club appears to have fallen through.
The five-time Dublin All-Ireland winner was granted a sanction by the GAA to transfer from St Vincent’s to the North American outfit for the duration of the summer.
However, there was a problem with his visa meaning that he was unable to take his flight as planned last Thursday.
Donegal Boston released a statement denying that Connolly, who powered them to last year’s Boston SFC title, was refused entry by immigration, as had been reported, and confirming that he wouldn’t be linking up with him this year.
Players hoping to feature in the US this summer have to be in the country by today, Monday, and it seems virtually impossible that the brilliant attacker will make it in time.
However, under GAA rules he will be unable to line out for St Vincent’s for a month after the date that his sanction was granted, which was last Thursday, 27 June.
That leaves him ineligible for football or hurling until the weekend of 27 July. However, he won’t miss much action for Vins as the Dublin Senior Football Championship is on hold until after the All-Ireland and the Marino club’s next game in the competition is against Balinteer St John’s on 13 September.
There are a number of league games scheduled for the next four weeks, which he won’t be able to play in.
A return to Dublin colours is highly unlikely and the fact that he will be unable to play for 30 days makes that possibility even more distant.
He hasn't played for the Dubs since February 2018 and despite persistent rumours he didn’t link back up with manager Jim Gavin’s squad at any point this year.
His enforced 30-day lay-off means he wouldn’t be eligible to play in Dublin’s first two All-Ireland quarter-final Super 8s games, against either Cork or Laois and then Roscommon, both in Croke Park.
Speaking to the Irish Mirror about Connolly’s transfer, Donegal Boston GAA Chairperson Paul Martin McDaid said: "Diarmuid has a small problem with his ESTA which Aer Lingus were notified of.
"The problem is only minor and will be hopefully fixed in the embassy this week. However, our deadline is tomorrow (Monday) and unfortunately Diarmuid won’t make it over in time.
"We’ve been made aware of the rumours going around about his being refused entry but this was not the case. We hope this clears things up."
Connolly was the star of the show in Boston last year and he returned to play for Vincent's in the Dublin championship, though they didn't make the final.
