Donegal roots present in New York team who fell short to Mayo at Gaelic Park

Donegal was present in Gaelic Park last night in the Bronx with two New York players with Donegal roots togging out for the Exiles in the opening round of the Connacht Championship. 

Captain Jamie Boyle and newcomer Tadhg O’Riordan, both with Donegal Town connections, started in the full-back line at No 3 and No 4 respectively, against Mayo with Kevin McStay’s side easing their way to victory on a 2-21 to 2-6 scoreline. 

Despite Boyle snatching a goal for New York, it was always going to be a difficult task with Mayo’s Ryan O’Donoghue showcasing his prowess at corner-forward, scoring a total of 1-13, with Aidan O’Shea delivering a notable performance in his 85th championship appearance for Mayo. 

New York, managed by Alan O’Mara, faced significant challenges with only three starters from their previous notable victory available due to various reasons such as retirements, work commitments, relocations, and injuries. Despite being down 17 players from the previous year, New York displayed resilience, scoring two impressive goals in the second half. 

A packed stadium witnessed Mayo's dominance from the outset, with O’Donoghue proving a formidable force in attack. Despite New York's efforts, Mayo's experience and intensity prevailed, highlighted by their strategic play and effective scoring. 

The game saw moments of excitement, including a significant goal by Frank O’Reilly for New York and Mayo's swift response, maintaining their lead. Both teams traded scores until the final whistle, with New York's goalkeeper Joey Grace making notable saves. 

This defeat adds to New York's challenging history in the championship, while Mayo looks forward to their upcoming Connacht semi-final against Roscommon.