A hurling club in New York has played an important role in the development of hurling in the city.
Founded in 2010, the Hoboken Guards have played in 11 championship finals over the past 15 years. After winning the Junior Championship in 2017, they were promoted to the Senior ranks in 2018 – and what followed was a golden run.
They captured the Senior New York Championship three years in a row: 2018, 2019, and 2020. They’ve also appeared in finals in 2011 through 2016, as well as 2021, 2022, and most recently, this year, when they faced Westmeath in the New York Final. A game they unfortunately lost.
The squad for this year’s final was led by player/manager Darragh Walsh, with coaching support from Brian Glynn, Eamon Glynn, and John Fitzgerald.
The team was captained by Johnny Glynn (Adrahan) with a strong Galway backbone that included David Mangan of Kilconieron, Daniel Mottram (Kilnadeema-Leitrim) in goal, Conor Caulfield (Kilconieron), and Gary Corless (Gort) among the starters. Also on the panel were Hugh McDonagh (Cortoon), Enda and Declan Fahey (Kilbeacanty), and Paul Gordon (Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry).
The Hoboken Guards have not only made their mark on the field but also helped grow the game across the U.S.
Their success sparked the formation of five other American hurling clubs, including Jersey Shore GAA. Two American-born players from the Guards’ All-American B team went on to found clubs of their own: Mick Kinnelly launched Providence Hurling Club in Rhode Island, James Herron started Tulsa GAA in Oklahoma, and Dave Lewis established the Kean University Hurling Club in New Jersey.
Ahead of this feature airing, the club’s founder David Cosgrove has been flooded with stories, messages, and memories from past players – both in New Jersey and here in Ireland.
He spoke to John Mulligan.
As Pat Egan put it best:
“Playing and becoming friends with some of the best lads I’ve ever known – that’s still the best part of being a Hoboken Guard.”
