IN SEARCH OF work and more, a number of the country’s top players have emigrated in recent years, and they’ll be sorely missed in this summer’s championship.
Although a number of them are in London and New York, there’s only six of them playing for the respective teams in the championship.
So here’s our best fifteen – there’s one province represented by eight players, can anyone guess which one?
1. Adrian Faherty – Galway to England
Faherty was the Galway number one from 2008 to 2012. He moved to London earlier this year, quickly making a name for himself in his new county scoring 1-1 whilst playing in an outfield role in the early rounds of their club championship.
Although after making his London debut in goal against Waterford during the league, he’s likely to feature there against his native county this weekend.
2. Stephen Ormsby – Roscommon to England
The DCU Sigerson player of the year in 2011, moved to England (his place of birth) in search of work last year.
The All-Ireland minor winner in 06′ had settled in to the Roscommon full-back line, winning a Connacht championship in 2010. He showed some of his best form for his university and at only 26, Roscommon fans will be hoping he returns home soon.
3. Colin Forde – Galway to England
For many Galway fans Colin Forde was their next captain in waiting. The 24 year old defender won a minor All-Ireland in 2007, he captained Galway to an U21 national title in 2011 and he had become a regular in the senior team in recent years.
He moved to London for employment reasons, taking up a physiotherapist job in a hospital in East Kent. He is not expected to play for London this year.
4. Peter Domican – Roscommon to Dubai
Domican also won a minor All-Ireland in 2006 with Roscommon playing at corner back. In 2010, aged 20 he captained Roscommon to the Connacht senior championship from full-back.
He also won an All-Ireland club title from centre back for St Brigid’s in 2013. His standout performance in that campaign was against Crossmaglen in the semi-finals when he marked Jamie Clarke and was named man of the match. He is in Dubai for work commitments.
5. Keith Quinn – Down to America
The attack minded defender was a regular in last year’s Down senior team, mainly operating in the half back line. He emerged from the Down minors in 2009 as a promising young midfielder after the county were beaten in that year’s All-Ireland semi-final to Mayo.
He is in now in New York, where he lined out at full forward for their senior footballers in this month’s loss to Mayo.
6. Brian McGuire – Kerry to America
McGuire made his league debut in 2011 against Galway, and his championship debut a year later against Westmeath. After an impressive underage career, McGuire made five senior championship appearances; winning two Munster championships.
It emerged only this month that he would be moving to the US to pursue a job in the equine industry.
7. Conor Doherty – Galway to England
Doherty first made his name with the Galway minors, excelling in the half back line during their 2007 All-Ireland triumph. He too won an U21 All-Ireland in 2007 and since progressed in to the senior set up.
In recent years the Tuam stars’ man appeared in the half forward line and even in a midfield role, as he was one of the standout performers in last year’s championship for Galway. He is now in London, but is unlikely to feature in their panel this year.
8. Paul Geraghty – Galway to England
Another Galway man, Geraghty did choose to represent his adopted city when he moved to London in 2008. He has been a tower in the middle of the park for the exiles in recent years, last year playing through the pain barrier to help his adopted team reach the provincial decider.
He played both championship and league football at midfield for the tribesmen before his departure, and he just edges out his now London team mate Mark Gottsche to make this fifteen. Gottsche is also from Galway.
9. Brendan Quigley – Laois to New York
Last year Brendan Quigley left Laois for the bright lights of New York in search of work. He made his Laois debut in 2006 and at 28 he is now one of the country’s top midfielders.
Quigley was an integral part of the Laois All-Ireland minor winning team of 2003, and two years later he was recruited by AFL side Brisbane Lions. He lined out at midfield for New York in their loss to Mayo earlier this month.
10. Ross Wherity – Donegal to America
Like Quigley, Ross Wherity has AFL experience and he too lined out for New York in this summer’s championship. The hard working wing forward had become a regular for Jim McGuinness’ side during last year’s league having beforehand represented the county at all grades.
He played for Geelong league club ‘Grovedale Tigers’ whilst in Australia, the same club as Galway’s Ronan Steede.
11. Brian Connor – Offaly to America
After a fantastic 2013 campaign for Offaly, Brian moved to New York where it had been rumored he would be joining up with the senior football panel. The rumors were later quashed though and he has yet to join up with the city’s senior panel.
Last year Brian was man of the match in the Division 4 league final win over Tipperary, scoring two points from centre forward. He comes from a family steeped in Offaly football tradition, and proved a huge loss in Offaly’s opening round defeat to Longford last weekend.
12. Alan Costello – Sligo to Australia
Costello is working in sales and marketing for Setanta Sports in Australia. He reached the 2004 All-Ireland final with the Mayo seniors before transferring to Sligo. He won a Connacht championship medal with Sligo in 2007, while in 2010 he received a GPA All-Star nomination. He is also a multiple Sigerson Cup winner with Sligo IT.
13. Conor Lynam – Westmeath to America
Aged 21, Conor Lynam took a year out of the Westmeath senior panel to travel. That was in 2012 yet he remains in New York to the dismay of Westmeath fans.
Lynam had headed the new generation of stars from the St Loman’s club, last year’s county champions. Yet like a number of other young prospects from the county such as Ian Coffey, the allure of Westmeath GAA wasn’t enough to keep them at home. Injury ruled him out of New York’s championship opener this year.
14. Lorcan Mulvey – Cavan to England
This year’s London captain earned himself an All-Star nomination for his performances during last summer’s Connacht championship.
The big Cavan man is comfortable playing anywhere in the forward line, or midfield where he featured most often for his native county during his eight years with their senior team. After representing Cavan through all the grades he moved to London in search of employment.
15. Nicky Joyce – Galway to America
Nicky’s Galway career has never been far from controversy but there’s never been any doubts over the forward’s quality.
He has three senior Connacht championships, after being on and off the Tribesmen’s championship fifteen from 2003 until 2012. Like Brian Connor it had been suggested he would line out for New York this year but he choose not to join up with the panel.
