5 things to look out for this weekend on GAAGO
Mike Finnerty | 4 April 2024
After a historic breakthrough last year, New York are back in action as Championship 2024 throws in this weekend.
A carnival start to the championship
There is nothing quite like a championship match in London or New York.
Galway supporters will get to experience the carnival atmosphere first-hand in Ruislip on Saturday while thousands of Mayo fans are making the transatlantic trip to Gaelic Park in the Bronx for Sunday’s novel Connacht SFC quarter-final.
It’s a huge occasion for the host County Boards so there will be plenty of pre-match entertainment as well as post-match hospitality.
These games are among the championship’s most colourful occasions.
Mayo’s annual quest begins again
Another championship adventure starts on Sunday for Mayo in New York as they commence their latest quest for a first All-Ireland senior title in 73 years.
The fanatical interest levels among their supporters can be gauged from the fact that the New York GAA Board announced that tickets for the game had been sold out earlier this week.
Kevin McStay will be hoping to learn from the mistakes made by Leitrim 12 months ago, and to start their championship with a bang.
New-look New York chase more history
The New York footballers made history and headlines when they ambushed Leitrim 12 months ago to win their first ever match in the Connacht championship.
But nobody knows better than Alan O’Mara, the new New York manager, that trying to take down Mayo is a different matter entirely.
The Exiles’ cause won’t be helped by the departure of a cluster of last year’s team, including Tipperary duo Alan Campbell and Bill Maher; midfielders Johnny Glynn and Gavin O’Brien, and Cork’s Mark Ellis.
The Mics are On
London is calling for David McIntyre and three-time All Star Marc Ó Sé. The GAAGO regulars will have their mics in hand in Ruislip on Saturday ready to call the action.
Over in the Bronx, I will be joined in the box by four-time All Star Colm Boyle. The former Mayo star played in this fixture on two previous occasions in the Connacht championship and will be on co-commentary duty on Sunday in Gaelic Park.
London calling for darkhorses Galway
They may have endured a testing National League campaign, on the back of a plethora of injuries to key players, but the Tribesmen remain on many people’s shortlist of championship darkhorses.
Saturday’s Connacht championship quarter-final against London gives Padraic Joyce and his injury-hit squad a chance to put the league behind them, and put their best foot forward.
Keep an eye out for Cillian Ó Curraoin, whose emergence as a skilful and stylish scoring attacker during the spring was one of the real positives for Joyce.