They’re doing it on the other side of the world now.
It was a shorter summer than usual for the men of Mayo as their championship interest ended before the dawn of July.
Usually, these men are in full swing at this time of the year with Mayo football the only thing crossing their minds but this time around, they’ve a little more freedom.
Diarmuid O’Connor and Conor Loftus wasted no time in travelling across the water to America simply because they had no time to waste. They lost to Kildare on the last day in June and in order to play football stateside for the summer they had to seal their transfers prior to deadline day, July 1.
After a ’12 hour scramble,’ the Mayo men made it over to the Windy City just in time to sign up with McBride’s GAA Club for the summer.
“Thanks for letting them travel and we’ll return them ready for championship,” the Chicago club assured Ballintubber and Deel Rovers respectively.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BkxdSwelvbq/?taken-by=sportsjoedotie
By joining McBride’s, the Yew County duo would be joining up with their former All-Ireland under-21 winning teammate Brian Reape.
The Moy Davitts club man has also had spells on Stephen Rochford’s senior panel and he played a crucial role in his club’s triumph over Kiltimagh in last year’s county intermediate final.
The big full forward was causing havoc for inside back lines on the other side of the world on Sunday when he scored 2-4 for McBride’s in their clash with Tones in the USGAA Championship.
Indeed, the McBride’s team is a who’s who of inter-county stars. From the three Mayo men to young Kerry talents Jonathan Lyne and Liam Carey to Dublin’s Aaron Byrne and Eoghan McHugh – these lads are well stocked.
McBride’s v tones pic.twitter.com/yelFRWxTzx
— McBrides CLG Chicago (@McBridesGaa) July 8, 2018
Their galaxy of stars fired them to a 2-19 to 3-10 victory over the Wolfe Tones, the men of the west playing a crucial role.
Fresh from his exhausting travails against Kildare, the tireless Diarmuid O’Connor got the ball rolling with the first point of the game and Brian Reape quickly went one better with a goal.
1 minute gone: point Diarmuid O Connor
— McBrides CLG Chicago (@McBridesGaa) July 8, 2018
3 minutes gone. 1:1 v 0:0 Brian Reape goal.
— McBrides CLG Chicago (@McBridesGaa) July 8, 2018
Reape turned on the style and once Conor Loftus arrived to the park late on, the Tones were fighting a losing battle. He kicked two from play in his fifteen minute cameo while Diarmuid O’Connor was still lording it.
Not a bad sub to make.
Conor Loftus in for Eoghan Mchugh pic.twitter.com/alzrFKoel5— McBrides CLG Chicago (@McBridesGaa) July 8, 2018
2:16 v 3:10
DIarmuid 40 meter run does it on his own— McBrides CLG Chicago (@McBridesGaa) July 8, 2018
2:18 v 3:10
Loftus point again. 🍑— McBrides CLG Chicago (@McBridesGaa) July 8, 2018
Scorers today
Brian Reape – 2:04
Jarlath Mullin – 0:03
Aaron Byrne – 0:03
Eoghan Mchugh 0:03
Jonathan Lyne – 0:02
Conor Loftus – 0:02
Michael Plunkett – 0:01
Diarmuid O Connor – 0:01— McBrides CLG Chicago (@McBridesGaa) July 9, 2018
You can’t keep those Mayo men down for long.
