The Cavan football club of New York will hold their 17th annual John Joe Cassidy memorial 7-A-Side tournament on Sunday April 7th in Gaelic Park. This tournament has become one of the premier events on the GAA calendar and the unofficial start to the football season in New York. John Joe Cassidy was originally from Arva Co. Cavan and played on the Cavan team that won the All-Ireland in 1947, 1948 and 1952. He also won six Ulster titles and two Railway cup medals . The 1947 final was played in the Polo Grounds in New York against Kerry.

Cassidy emigrated to New York along with Owen Roe McGovern in the early 1950s and became an active member of the Cavan GFC of New York as a player, President and Honorary President, until his death in 1995.

There are ten teams in this year's tournament; Cavan senior, Cavan Junior, Cork, Kerry, Wolfe Tone- Boston, Cork- Boston, Connemara Gaels -Philadelphia , St Pats -Philadelphia. The Wolfe Tones club from Boston were the winners last year with Big Joe Sheridan (Meath)being one of the star players on the team. Alan Carolan (Knockbride) and Micheal Smith (Mullahoran) are the chairpersons for this event . Brendan O'Reilly (Mullahoran)is manager of the Cavan senior team and Ciaran Shields (Mullahoran) of the Cavan Junior team. Tweet

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