After their historic Connacht SFC quarter-final victory over Leitrim, the New York panel travelled to Ireland this week to face Sligo in the pronvicial semi-final.
Their 26-man squad for the game - which throws in at 2:30pm on Saturday at Markievicz Park - features four Americans, a Londoner, and players from 14 counties. Among them are All-Ireland minor winners, an All-Ireland senior hurling winner, a Leinster Schools Rugby Senior Cup winner, and numerous seasoned inter-county players.
New York GAA panel to play Sligo
1. Michael Cunningham (Down)
The former Down footballer was one of the heroes for New York in their victory over Leitrim in the Connacht quarter-finals. Cunningham made crucial saves during the game and also in the penalty shootout which his side won 2-0.
He was part of the Down team which reached the 2017 Ulster final, losing to Tyrone, and then to Monaghan in the qualifiers.
The software engineer is the Chief Technology Officer and co-founder of Zelta AI. He has lived in the Big Apple since late 2017, and made his Connacht Championship debut with New York in 2022.
2. Jamie Boyle (New York)
17 April 2022; Niall Murphy of Sligo in action against Jamie Boyle of New York during the Connacht GAA Football Senior Championship Quarter-Final match between New York and Sligo at Gaelic Park in New York, USA. Photo by Daire Brennan/Sportsfile
The American-born corner-back capatained the team in last year's championship. His mother's grandparents hailed from Donegal, and moved to the US in the 60s, while his grandfather on his father's side came from Wexford.
Boyle, who works as a project manager for a construction company, played college football with the University of Central Florida as a kicker on the same team as future NFL quarterback Blake Bortles.
3. Alan Campbell (Tipperary)
The Moyle Rovers man played with Tipperary for 10 seasons after making his senior debut in 2012. He was part of the Tipp side which reached the 2016 All-Ireland semi-final, and the one which won the Munster title in 2020.
The full-back, one of two Tipperary footballers on the team, moved to New York in the summer of 2021. He works as a software engineer with Bloomberg.
Kerin is a former Galway footballer who played with the Tribesmen between 2016 and 2019. The Annaghdown man was nominated for an All-Star in 2018. He is also a two-time Connacht Championship winner.
5. Bill Maher (Tipperary)
The second Tipperary man on the team. He was part of the Tipp side which defeated a star-studded Dublin team to win the 2011 All-Ireland Minor Football Championship. The Kilsheelan Kilcash man then captained Tipperary to the minor hurling title the following year.
30 September 2012; Tipperary captain Bill Maher lifts the Irish Press Cup. Electric Ireland GAA Hurling All-Ireland Minor Championship Final Replay, Dublin v Tipperary, Croke Park, Dublin. Photo by Sportsfile
He made his senior inter-county debut in 2015, and played wing-back on the Tipperary U20 team which was defeated by Tyrone in that year's All-Ireland final. In 2020, he helped the county to their first senior Munster football title in 85 years.
He moved to New York in late 2022.
6. Rob Wharton (Kerry)
The man from Renard in south Kerry won an All-Ireland minor title with the Kingdom in 2014, and a junior All-Ireland in 2016 in a team which featured 2022 Sam Maguire winners Jason Foley and Adrian Spilane.
In between, he played at outside centre for Cistercian College Roscrea as they won their first ever Leinster School Senior Cup with an 18-11 victory over Belvedere.
He made one senior championship appearance for Kerry as a substitute in the 2019 Munster semi-final victory over Clare.
One of two Kerrymen on the team, He works in marketing and moved to the US last year.
17 March 2015; Rob Wharton, CC Roscrea, is tackled by James McKeown, Belvedere College. Bank of Ireland Leinster Schools Senior Cup Final, in association with Beauchamps Solicitors, Belvedere College v Cistercian College Roscrea. RDS, Ballsbridge, Dublin. Picture credit: Stephen McCarthy / SPORTSFILE
7. Shane Brosnan (New York)
The 20-year-old American is the son of Kerryman Mike Brosnan, originally from Knocknagoshel (and he still sounds like he never spent a day outside the village), who moved to the US in 1989.
Mike, whose son Mikey is also on the New York panel, featured at minor, U21, junior and senior levels for Kerry. He played nine times in the league for the Kingdom between 1988 and 1989, and was also part of the St Kieran's divisional side which won the Kerry SFC in 1988.
8. Johnny Glynn (Galway)
Glynn, one of three Galwaymen on the team, has been in New York since 2015. While there, he continued to play with the Galway hurlers and was part for the Tribesmen side which won Liam MacCarthy for the first time in 29 years in 2017. Glynn made his first championship appearance for the exiles in 2016.
He co-owns Failte Sports Recovery Room with New York manager Johnny McGeeney.
9. Gavin O’Brien (Kerry)
8 January 2023; Kerins O'Rahilly's players Gavin O'Brien and David Moran, right, after the AIB GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Club Championship Semi-Final match between Kilmacud Crokes of Dublin and Kerins O'Rahilly's of Kerry at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile
The Kerins O'Rahillys man played nine times for the Kingdom in the league between 2019 and 2020. He played for the club in December's Munster championship final victory over Newcastle West and the subsequent All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Kilmacud Crokes.
10. Mark Ellis (Cork)
The former Cork hurler made his championship debut for New York in last year's defeat to Sligo. He won Munster Hurling Championship titles with the Rebels in 2014 and 2017, and was also nominated for an All-Star in 2014. Ellis was the first player from Millstreet, traditionally a football area, to play senior hurling for Cork.
19 May 2019; Graeme Mulcahy of Limerick in action against Robert Downey, left, and Mark Ellis of Cork during the Munster GAA Hurling Senior Championship Round 2 match between Limerick and Cork at the LIT Gaelic Grounds in Limerick. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
11. Adrian Varley (Galway)
The Cortoon Shamrocks man made his senior debut for Galway in 2013, the same year he and his brother Paul helped the county to an All-Ireland U21 title. He won senior Connacht titles in 2016 and 2018, and last played for Galway in 2020.
Varley scored six points for New York in their Connacht championship defeat to Sligo last year, and four points in the Tailteann Cup quater-final loss to Offaly.
Nice skill by @Galway_GAA's Ian Burke finished in a point by Adrian Varley! pic.twitter.com/2mnVMgKUfp
— The GAA (@officialgaa) October 18, 2020
12. Shane Carthy (New York/Dublin)
New York-born Carthy made his senior inter-county debut in the Connacht Championship against Mayo as a 17-year-old in 2009. He subsequently moved to Ireland, and won an All-Ireland club title with St Vincent's in 2014, and Sam Maguire medals with Dublin.
17 March 2014; Shane Carthy, St Vincent's, waits for the final whistle with team-mates. AIB GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Club Championship Final, Castlebar Mitchels, Mayo, v St Vincent's, Dublin. Croke Park, Dublin. Picture credit: Ramsey Cardy / SPORTSFILE
Though he had suffered a quad muscle injury in the build-up to the victory over Leitrim, Carthy played and scored the crucial equalising point which took the game to extra-time. This season, he has commuted from Boston to train with the New York panel.
13. Mikey Brosnan (New York)
The 22-year-old is the older brother of wing-back Shane. He converted the winning penalty kick in the shootout victory over Leitrim.
8 April 2023; Mikey Brosnan of New York scores the winning penalty for his side during the Connacht GAA Football Senior Championship quarter-final match between New York and Leitrim at Gaelic Park in New York, USA. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
14. Paddy Boyle (Down)
The second Down man on the team. Like goalkeeper Michael Cunningham, he hails from Castlewellan, and the pair grew up 100m apart. A long-serving member of the New York panel.
4 May 2014; Aidan O'Shea, Mayo, in action against Paddy Boyle and Paul O'Connor, New York. Connacht GAA Football Senior Championship Preliminary Round, New York v Mayo, Gaelic Park, Bronx, New York, USA. Picture credit: Pat Murphy / SPORTSFILE
15. Daniel O’Sullivan (Kildare)
The Maynooth man, who moved to New York last year, won a Leinster minor title with Kildare in 2016. He scored a point from play against Leitrim. Against Sligo and Offaly last year, he played at wing-back.
He works as a renewable energy consultant.
Substitutes
16. Adam Loughlin Stones (Westmeath)
The 24-year-old has won Westmeath senior football titles with The Downs and hurling titles with Clonkill. He captained the Westmeath minor footballers in 2016.
Congratulations to Adam Loughlin Stones (The Downs) and Dylan McDermott (Mullingar Shamrocks) who were part of the New York football team that made history last Saturday by defeating Leitrim in the Connacht Championship.#iarmhiabu#westmeathgaa#maroonandwhitearmy pic.twitter.com/eENy7Fc8tG
— Westmeath GAA (@westmeath_gaa) April 10, 2023
17. Matthew Queenan (Mayo)
The Lahardane native first joined up with the New York panel in 2018, and was vice-captain when they faced Mayo in 2019.
"I never thought I would be in the situation where I would be preparing to play Mayo," Queenan told The Mayo News in 2019.
"You almost don’t want to think it’s Mayo, you just have to think it’s another team coming out with very good footballers.
"It’s funny, I was cheering them on no ends in the League final a few weeks ago, but now I want to split half of them! Or at least try and stop them."
Queenan won the Mayo and Connacht Junior Club Football Championships with Lahardane McHales in 2018.
5 May 2019; Fergal Boland of Mayo in action against Matthew Queenan of New York during the Connacht GAA Football Senior Championship Quarter-Final match between New York and Mayo at Gaelic Park in New York, USA. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
18. Killian Butler (London)
The London native was born and raised in Greenford, and played for the Tír Chonaill Gaels before moving to New York. He was called into the London senior squad by Ciaran Deely as an 18-year-old in 2016. His brother Phillip also played for London.
5 May 2019; Killian Butler of London in action against John Daly of Galway during the Connacht GAA Football Senior Championship Quarter-Final match between London and Galway at McGovern Park in Ruislip, London, England. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
19. Colin Keane (Sligo)
Keane started at corner-back for New York last year in their four-point defeat to his Sligo and the loss to Offaly in the Tailteann Cup.
17 April 2022; Niall Murphy of Sligo in action against Colin Keane of New York during the Connacht GAA Football Senior Championship Quarter-Final match between New York and Sligo at Gaelic Park in New York, USA. Photo by Daire Brennan/Sportsfile
20. Connell Ahearne (Meath)
After being called upon at half-time against Leitrim, Ahearne scored four points for New York, two from marks and two from frees.
He is a former Meath U20 captain and won county titles with Ratoath in 2019 and 2020.
4 October 2020; Joey Wallace of Ratoath, fourth from left, and his team-mates, from left, Darragh Kelly, 9, Connell Ahearne, Keith McCabe and Eamonn Wallace celebrate their side's winning goal in the last minute of the Meath County Senior Football Championship Final match between Ratoath and Gaeil Colmcille at Páirc Táilteann in Navan, Meath. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
21. Niall Madine (Down)
Along with Mikey Brosnan, Madine was the only player to score in the shootout against Leitrim.
The 30-year-old Saval clubman made his senior championship debut for Down in 2013 and last played for the county in 2018. He first played with New York in 2019.
23 June 2018; Niall Madine of Down in action against Niall Murray, left, and Conor Bradley of Cavan during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Round 2 match between Cavan and Down at Brewster Park in Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh. Photo by Barry Cregg/Sportsfile
22. Jack Reilly (Mayo)
The Charlestown man, who scored a point off the bench against Leitrim, played at minor and U21 levels for Mayo. He started in the forwards for New York last year in their games against Sligo and Offaly.
23. Luke Kelly (Offaly)
The Clara man played at minor and U21 levels for Offaly and was also around the fringes of the senior team. He has been a member of the New York panel for a number of years.
6 May 2018; Luke Kelly of New York in action against Micheal McWeeney of Leitrim during the Connacht GAA Football Senior Championship Quarter-Final match between New York and Leitrim at McGovern Park at Gaelic Park in New York, USA. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
24. Peter Fox (Tyrone)
The Tyrone native scored a point from play in the game against Leitrim. A year earlier, the Greencastle man hit two in the loss to Sligo and also played as New York were eliminated from the Tailteann Cup by Offaly.
Ádh mór ort to our very own An Caisleán Glas man, Peter Fox, lining out for New York GAA on Sunday when they take on Sligo GAA in the opening game of the Connaught Championship 👏🏻
The game takes place this Sunday 17th April at 2.30pm in Gaelic Park and can be watched on GAAGo💚 pic.twitter.com/dxGV8w5Usb
— Greencastle GAA (@greencastleGAA) April 15, 2022
25. Tiernan Mathers (New York)
The New York native, whose mother is from Down and father from Armagh, has been part of the inter-county setup since 2019.
"I’ve been playing football since I was six years old," he told the the GAA website four years ago.
"Gaelic football has always been my sport. Hurling went back and forth for a while, but Gaelic has always been the one. I first kicked a football when I was three, or maybe earlier than that. It’s always been in the family. There’s ten of us, seven boys and one girl, then mom and dad are coaching."
26. Shane Bolger (Laois)
4 January 2020; Shane Bolger of Laois during the 2020 O'Byrne Cup Round 2 match between Meath and Laois at Pairc Tailteann in Navan, Meath. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
The Killeshin clubman, who had been around the fringes of the Laois panel in recent years, has been included in the New York 26-man squad for the game against Sligo after not being involved against Leitrim.
His brother Ross recently made the made the news after generating the interest of US college football coaches for his punting ability.
He is the son of former Leinster GAA chairman Jim Bolger.
Two-footed Laois Gaelic footballer Ross Bolger is chasing his American dream, reports @Darrenfrehill #RTEgaa pic.twitter.com/Lw9wpM29wH
— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) January 24, 2023
Gaelic Games On TV: 10 Games To Watch Live This Weekend
