From GAA to gridiron: The Derry, Kerry and Laois trio in the US

This Saturday at the Aviva Stadium, Georgia Tech play Florida State in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. The Georgia Tech team includes David Shanahan, a Kerryman who blazed a trail for those who dreamt of transferring their Gaelic football kicking skills to the American game.

13 October 2019; Ross Bolger of Killeshin in action against Chris Finn of Portlaoise during the Laois County Senior Club Football Championship Final match between Portlaoise and Killeshin at O’Moore Park in Portlaoise, Laois. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

More have followed where David Shanahan led four years ago, including Jude McAtamney from Derry, an Ulster U20 Championship winner, who took the same route as the Kerry native through Australian organisation Prokick, initially signing with Division 2 college Chowan University before moving up a rung to Rutgers. He signed with the New York Giants NFL team earlier this year. Former Connacht rugby player Tadhg Leader has since cut another route and successfully led Ross Bolger from Laois to Idaho State.

David, Jude and Ross told the Irish Examiner about their experience of playing college football.