Letter from America: The Mayo man hoping for a New York win
Charlestown native Jack Reilly in action for New York against Josh Moore of Carlow in the 2023 Tailteann Cup Preliminary Quarter-Final. Picture: INPHO/Evan Treacy
Not every Mayo man is hoping for a Green and Red victory in Gaelic Park on Sunday.
Charlestown native Jack Reilly is hoping he can help create history and secure New York their first-ever victory over Mayo in championship football.
The 27-year-old half-forward lists hunting among his hobbies and this weekend his home county is the prey.
Five times the teams have clashed in the Connacht SFC and the least the Big Apple boys have ever lost by is 12 points, which was on the occasion of their inaugural meeting in MacHale Park back in 1999.
Since then Mayo have prevailed by 26 points (2004), 15 points (2009), 22 points (2014) and 21 points (2019), with New York ever only scoring one goal.
But buoyed by their breakthrough provincial championship win against Leitrim last year, of which Jack Reilly was centrally involved, the Empire State side are aiming to make another big impression.
Reilly was introduced in the third minute of stoppage time against Leitrim last year and immediately scored an equalising point after which the two teams traded one point more apiece to finish 0-13 each and cause extra-time.
There’s other Mayo interest in the New York panel as defender Kevin Rafferty’s mother is a native of Crossmolina. The New York born 24-year-old plays centre-back and is a holder of two New York SFC medals with St Barnaba’s for whom Jack Reilly also plays. There’ll be no fear of Rafferty running out of legs on Sunday as last year he ran the New York City Marathon.
Another West of Ireland member of the New York squad is Sean Conry who more than most would love to claim the scalp of Mayo hailing as he does from just across the county boundary. A former player with Western Gaels GAA club, which covers the parishes of Fairymount/Tibohine and Frenchpark/Ballinagare, the 27-year-old is a former student of St Nathy’s College in Ballaghaderreen and plays for the Longford club in New York.
Were New York to achieve the unthinkable on Sunday, Conry would have a Connacht semi-final against his native Roscommon to look forward to on the weekend of April 20/21.
This weekend is the start of a busy inter-county championship season which will run for sixteen weeks, culminating with the All-Ireland SFC Final on July 28.
