The Donegal GAA players who will make the most of the summers in North America

A host of Gaelic footballers from Donegal will be enjoying their summer in the United States.

According to the GAA's official list, the New York sanctions mean Niall O’Donnell of St Eunan’s and Naomh Conaill’s Eoghan McGettigan line out for Donegal New York, with Mark McAteer from Gaeil Fhánada at O’Donnovan Rossa. Four Masters’ Richard O’Rourke is also in the Big Apple, in his case with Brooklyn Shamrocks. 

The USGAA County Board sanctions through confirm Donegal Boston has long since been an attractive destination and this year in the North East Division is no exception with St Eunan’s brothers Conor and Shane O’Donnell, as well as Fionnan Coyle and Domhnall Mac Giolla Bhríde from Gaoth Dobhair on board. Jason McGee, the Cloughaneely and Donegal midfielder, is on a J1 with Donegal Boston, as is Jack McSharry from Killybegs.

Ryan McFadden, Termon, is with St Patrick’s, also in the North East, as is Liam Toye of St Mary’s Convoy, in his case with Connemara Gaels.

In terms of J1 sanctions, Glenfin’s Ross Marley will play for John McBride’s in Chicago and St Eunan’s Oran Winston will line out for Padraig Pearses in Chicago on sanctions, with St Michael’s pair Edward O’Reilly and Patrick McGinley. Padraig McGettigan, also St Eunan’s, is with Setanta San Diego in the South West, with Shane Meehan of St Naul’s lining out for Seattle Gaels in the North-West Division.

Cillian Gildea of Killybegs is listed as a Donegal Boston intermediate panelist. In Donegal Boston’s junior panel, there are sanctions for Paul Diver from Naomh Bríd, Pettigo’s Sean Maher, Eoin de Bruca and Fiachra Coyle of Gaoth Dobhair, Sean Rooney, who plays for Aodh Ruadh, Joey Gillespie and Hugh Sweeney from Naomh Muire, while Buncrana’s Ben Bradley is on the J1 sanctions.

Brian McDaid from Termon will represent Delco Gaels in Philadelphia, with Peter Curran of Milford in the same division at St Patrick’s. Ardara’s Cathal Gallagher is in Western Canada with St Finnians. 

As per GAA, official guide, rule 6.12: “A player who has received a sanction will not be able to play again with his club in Ireland for 30 days after the date of approval of his Sanction in Croke Park, with all sanctions to USGAA (North America), New York or Canada, granted before July 1. A sanction shall entitle a player to play with a club in either the New York, Canadian or USGAA Board areas from 1st March to the end of October in any one year.”