Jamie Boyle of New York during the Tailteann Cup launch at 34th and 5th Avenue in New York City, USA.
By Drew McClimon
Jamie Boyle dreamed of playing in a championship match in Croke Park from a young age. His father handed him a Gaelic football early on, and Boyle began playing his first matches at the U8 level.
As Boyle became older, his aspirations continued to grow and his skills improved dramatically, and now, if New York wins their semi final match, Boyle has the opportunity to play in a competitive game at Croke Park, thus fulfilling a lifelong dream. The only difference between Boyle and the vast majority of footballers who dream of playing competing at such a high level? Boyle is an American.The All-Ireland Junior Championship represents an opportunity for international teams to play at a high level against one another in Ireland.
Raised in New York, Boyle grew up learning Gaelic games at Gaelic Park in New York City. Boyle’s father also learned to play at the same venue. Like many Americans who participate in Gaelic games, Boyle holds Irish ancestry as his grandparents hail from Donegal and Wexford, and he still prioritises visiting his family who remains in Ireland every few years.
Irish culture has long been a staple in New York. Gaelic Park is only one example of a place in New York where the Irish identity can be found. Throughout the city, there are havens for Irish culture that promote Irish sports, the language, and many more facets of Irish culture.
However, when Boyle was being brought up, he notes that his club struggled to get proper numbers for training and games, and they would “throw neighbours into the car just to get numbers.”
Nowadays, Boyle notes how American children are showing up in droves to play Gaelic football. They have growing numbers at young ages, which clearly reflects the momentum of the game in the United States. As teams such as New York continue to participate in events such as the All-Ireland Junior Championship, Boyle predicts that excitement for the GAA will only continue to spread across the United States.
As Boyle states, the more opportunities for success they have, “the better.” He also notes that it is very encouraging to see other international teams participating, and “hopefully winning.”
Success for the New York team in the All-Ireland Junior Championship would mean walking away with the trophy. While many of the New Yorkers are familiar with the quality and speed of senior level football, this team prides itself on its toughness.
In preparation for the Tailteann Cup, the senior team played challenge games with this junior team. Boyle recalls these encounters being very competitive and physical; a tactic which New York aims to bring to this tournament.
Niall Murphy of Sligo in action against Jamie Boyle of New York during the Connacht GAA Football Senior Championship Quarter-Final match between New York and Sligo at Gaelic Park in New York, USA.
Furthermore, the management of the New York Junior team was also the management of the New York Senior team. Boyle thinks the management’s experience in the Tailteann Cup will carry over to this tournament.
After analysing film and watching the New York Tailteann Cup team, the New York side will make necessary adjustments to strive for success this time around. As such, it is clear that this New York team is here to compete to win. Boyle notes that the overall goal is to build competitive teams at every level.
He sees this tournament as an opportunity for New York to show it can compete against strong competition. Boyle added that the New York team is “extremely grateful to be included and we’re very excited for the chance to compete in Ireland again. These games don’t come around too often for us and a chance to potentially play in Croke Park is also something that doesn’t come around too often.”
Despite the fact that this team may not have as much experience competing at such a high level as their counterparts, Boyle believes that their experiences in the Féile tournament, when they faced Irish and English competition, will help them significantly as they prepare for the Junior Championship.
Gaelic games have spread well beyond the confines of Ireland, and players such as Jamie Boyle long for the opportunity to play in meaningful games in Croke Park. This New York team, driven by their intensity and physicality, is grateful for the opportunity given to them and their participation in this tournament is sure to further a movement in the US that sees a large increase in the popularity of Irish sport.
