Former Mayo ace Tom Cunniffe selected on New York team

FORMER Mayo and Castlebar Mitchels Gaelic footballer star is back in the big time this coming weekend when he lines out in the preliminary round of the Connaught senior championship.

However, he won't be wearing the green and red as he has declared for New York and will play in his customary corner-back position when the Yanks play Sligo in Gaelic Park, Yonkers, New York, on Sunday evening at 8 p.m. (Irish time).

Cunniffe and his new team will be hoping to upset the odds by beating Sligo, who will be missing four or five of their regulars due to injury and exams for this first championship game of the year.

Last year New York almost created the biggest shock in GAA history when they almost beat Roscommon. Indeed, they took the Rossies' to extra-time when they lost narrowly and had a great chance to score a goal in the dying moments to win the game.

Sligo will not be taking New York for granted this time around and will be very weary of the huge threat they hold.

Along with Cunniffe, New York will also have a second former Mayo senior player in their team as former Claremorris star Brian Gallagher has been selected to play at midfield.

Gallagher was also a member of the team which gave Roscommon the fright of their lives last year.

Should New York pull off a shock win they will then meet Mayo in the Connaught quarterfinal in Elverys MacHale Park, Castlebar, on Sunday, May 21.

Should this be the case it will proving a very interesting game for both Cunniffe and Gallagher.