GAA –
By Harry Walsh
FORMER St Eunan’s manager Eamon O’Boyle is off to America this summer to manage St. Pat’s, Donegal in Philadelphia.
O’Boyle, who led ‘Eunan’s to three Senior Championships and three League titles during his time at O’Donnell Park travels Stateside in early June for three months.
Playing football in America has been a popular pursuit among the student population for many years but it’s a new departure to see a club manager make the move.
Indeed some of O’Boyle’s St. Eunan’s players have featured prominently among the summer recruits for St. Pat’s in recent years, including Ciarán Greene, Packie Kennedy, Caolan Ward and Conor Gibbons.
“I haven’t heard of any other manager doing it before to be honest. I’ve been to America before but it was not football related and I’m looking forward to the challenge,” O’Boyle said.
The Mayo native manages both the men’s and ladies GAA teams in Letterkenny Institute of Technology where he works as a personal assistant.
“My work in LyIT means I’m off for the summer months so it gives me this chance. The College has links with the Donegal GAA in Philadelphia and there are also two students travelling out for the summer to play football,” he explained.
The students, Anthony Brown (Convoy) and Brian Egan (Sligo), travel to Philly as part of their Sports Science course but they will also play for St Pat’s during their time in America.
“They take their football very seriously in America and, hopefully, my experience and knowledge will be able to assist them this summer,” he said.
O’Boyle’s team were defeated by St Patrick’s, Drumcondra 2-16 to 2-8 in the Trench Cup final on Saturday.
The ladies team play host to Sligo IT in the quarter final of their competition on Thursday, throw-in 4pm.
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