Strong Westmeath representation on NY squad to face Mayo
Cóilín Duffy
There's a strong local connection to the New York squad that will take on Mayo in the Connacht Senior Football Championship this Sunday.
Mullingar's Dylan McDermott and Moate native Robert Gorman have been named in the match-day 26.
Gorman has been named on the full-back line, and is one of three players from the Sligo NY Club on the starting 15, including goalkeeper Vinny Cadden, and Monaghan native Daniel McKenna upfront.
Mullingar Shamrocks clubman McDermott is among the subs, while Kilbeggan native Michael Stones, who is heavily involved with the Westmeath club in New York, is involved as a selector.
New York manager Justin O'Halloran expects a tough test against the newly crowned Allianz League champions.
“I've noticed every year there's a bit more confidence in lads, and bit more of an appetite that maybe we could do this," the Cootehill, Cavan native said.
“I recall back to 2016 having a conversation with Brian Connor, who was our captain that year; and telling him with a week to go to the game that we were going to win, and he kind of looked at me and was wondering 'I know we are a good team, but how do you figure out we will win?
“We haven't won a game and we have been beaten by 20 points every year. I said that, the way ye are going, we are going to win. Unfortunately we didn't win, but every year it's been easier to tell these guys that we are good enough. They believe in themselves a little bit more now I guess.
“It's a bit more difficult this year to try and bring in that winning mentality, because obviously in my book if you go by results Mayo are the best team in the country right now. There's no doubt about that – they are the National League champions.
“It's a little bit more difficult to try and get that winning mentality built in, but like I always say, we set ourselves goals. If we are within five points at half-time, that's our number one goal.
“In the second half with 10 minutes to go if we are within that six or seven points then we'll just open the shackles and go for it. We might as well be beaten by 10 or 15 points, as beaten by one.”
Throw-in at Gaelic Park in the Bronx is at 7.15pm Irish time on Sunday.
NEW YORK (Connacht SFC V Mayo): Vinny Cadden; Michael Creegan, Gerard McCartan, Robert Gorman; Paddy Boyle, Michael Naughton, Matthew Queenan; Cathal Compton, Sean Hurley; Shane Hogan, Luke Kelly, Daniel McKenna; David Freeman, Niall Madine, Peter Hatzer. Subs: Patrick Guerin, Conor Connolly, Tony Donnelly, James Maughan, Shane Slattery, Ryan Kerley, Kevin Finn, Tiarnan Mathers, Conor Healy, Dylan McDermott, Fearghal O'Brien.