In 1996, the Cavan Gaelic Football and Social Club in New York launched a 7-a-side tournament to honour the memory of John Joe Cassidy. Four teams competed in 1996 and that had grown to twenty teams last year. The event is now recognised in New York as the opening of the football season. The competition is a one day event, held in Van Cortland Park in the Bronx. At the recent meeting, members suggested that it would be nice to see a team from Cavan participate in 2002. The tournament takes place on the last Sunday in March, which falls this year on the 31st, Easter Sunday, just a week before the opening of Gaelic Park in New York. John Joe Cassidy was born and raised in Arva and got a taste of New York when he represented Cavan in the 1947 All Ireland Final against Kerry in the Polo Grounds. The wing half forward has three All Ireland Medals, 1947, 1948 and 1952, six Ulster and two Railway Cup Medals. He emigrated to New York in the early 1950's and became an active member of the Club as a player, President and Honorary President, until his demise in 1995. The club in New York requests that any club wishing to participate in this tournament should notify them by the 1st March, 2002. Any club contemplating travelling must receive permission from the county board. For further information, Fax (718)829-1579 or mail to Cavan GFC of New York, c/o Gilsenan, 157 Catskill Avenue, Yonkers, New York 10704. Tweet

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