The Ulster Football Championship could be livened up this year by the participation, even if only for five minutes, of Olympic Gold Medal winning sprinter Usain Bolt. At least that was what our April Fools Day story suggested.  We had a bit of fun, but who knows…
This is what we ‘revealed’ in Monday’s story that generated plenty of interest…
Sources close to the star and to Donegal football have revealed that Bolt, who will be racing in London at the Diamond Meeting in the Olympic Stadium at the end of July, is looking into what would be required to qualify to play for the county should they make it to the Ulster Football Final on Sunday July 21st.
A venue for the game has yet to be confirmed but if Bolt were to be involved it is likely the game would transfer to Croke Park.
“This would be a huge draw,” said a GAA spokesperson.  “There would be a mad rush for tickets if such a global superstar were to line out against some of our own sporting greats.”
“We are looking at what Seanie Johnson had to do to play for Kildare,” said a spokesperson at Pace Management, Bolt’s management company.  “Usain has said in the past he would like to play for Man United but having seen a recording of Donegal’s All Ireland win last year, he fancies his chances as a corner forward.”
“And if the team was short of kit, he could always wear his Jamaican running gear which has the same yellow and green colours,”
Ricky Simms, Bolt’s manager is a native of Donegal and maintains close ties to the counties sporting teams.
“We set up a goalpost in Jamaica over the winter and Usain has been taking time to practice a few kicks off his right and left feet,” added the spokesman.
“Usain would have to play a club match first and this may pose a problem with diaries but a few of the players are looking into how it might be possible to get game time in a club championship match before the start of the inter county series,” added the spokesperson.
“We’ve been able to keep this under wraps since London 2012 last year, though Usain did say at the time he would be travelling to Donegal as soon as he could.”
“I suppose it was inevitable that it would get out at some stage and I guess today is as good a day as any to break the story.”

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