The rise and rise of New York hurling could continue apace this weekend, and for Big Apple-born James Breen, there's no reason why they should limit their ambitions.
On Sunday, a day later than originally scheduled due to a cancelled flight from the US, the side will play their first competitive inter-county game of the season – a Nickey Rackard Cup semi-final against Mayo, moved from Mullingar to Longford, with Tyrone waiting in the final.
In 2024, they made a minor breakthrough by claiming the Connacht League title at the expense of this weekend’s opponents.
They added to that by winning last year’s Lory Meagher Cup after victories over Monaghan and Cavan – the latter’s manager Ollie Bellew describing the decision to parachute them in at that stage as a "disgusting" one by GAA officials, while also adding he had no gripe with New York.
It’s a similar situation this year only a tier higher and Breen is hoping they can make it another two-game trip to Ireland.
"It always feels like a long way away when we first get started," said the Yonkers native.
"It's months down the road and it kind of slowly keeps coming closer and closer and that excitement builds.
"So it's kind of all just bottled up right now and just hopefully we can use that to help deliver.
"They've made a strong effort to increase the standard in New York over the last couple of years and I would say it's probably grown exponentially, especially since Covid.
"The Nickey Rackard really gives it that extra level for guys to get to beyond the senior championship within New York.
"Just looking at it from the other side of the coin, I guess, as a local, it's a lot of guys that have maybe come out here for decisions outside of hurling, whether it be work or different life experiences that bring them out here, and maybe feel their opportunity to hurl is gone at an inter-county level or at a high level.
"This is an opportunity for them to get back into that. That opportunity is still there, that dream is still there to be able to compete and go back to Ireland and play in front of family and friends and represent their new home or their adopted home."
New York have played two challenge games in preparation for the fixture, and their club leagues have been shifted slightly to shorten the gap without competitive hurling.
Athenry man Darragh Hynes has been part of the New York project for four years now and is looking forward to their Nickey Rackard debut.
"We want to be competing at the highest level possible to showcase the skill and strength that New York has to offer," he said.
"It gives the players something to aim for, it’s very significant."
"Firstly we have to think about getting through the semi-final and that’s all we’re really thinking about now," he added.
"We are there to win though, of course. We aren’t there to make up the numbers. We have serious belief built up, especially after watching Johnny Glynn (captain) and James Green lift the Lory Meagher Cup last year.
"It means the world to us; we do want to go over and showcase and hopefully we can do that."
Watch Galway v Kildare in the All-Ireland Football Championship first round on Saturday from 7.20pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow our live blog on RTÉ.ie/sport and RTÉ News app and listen to Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
Watch a provincial hurling double-header, Dublin v Kilkenny (2pm) and Cork v Clare (4pm), on Sunday from 1.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow our live blog on RTÉ.ie/sport and RTÉ News app and listen to Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
Watch The Saturday Game and The Sunday Game from 9.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on all matches on the RTÉ News app and on rte.ie/sport
