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Irish Eyes Have Smiled On Lacrosse

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day Lax Nation! IMHO March 17th is the first of America’s 4 greatest holidays with the 4th of July, Thanksgiving, and Christmas following in their respective seasons.

Don’t forget “Leprechaun 6: Back 2 tha Hood”

Those of us of who are of Irish descent (approx. 36,278,332 of us) are well aware of the impact Irish Americans have had on this great country of ours. Irish Americans have contributed more than just Guinness, Leprechaun 4: In Space, the Notre Dame mascot, and keeping the American cabbage industry afloat.

A quick glance at the most recent lacrosse headlines also tells you the impact Irish Americans have had on the game of lacrosse (full disclosure: my research was based on the Irishness of a last name).

The U.S. Lacrosse Hall of Fame has a roster sprinkled with Irishness: O’Connor, O’Leary, O’Neill, McAnally, McCabe and McEneaneny.

Head coaches of Irish descent include, Bill Tierney at Denver, John Desko at ‘Cuse (who couldn’t look more Irish if he tried), Kevin Corrigan at Notre Dame, Erin Quinn who helmed the ship at Middlebury for 11 years, and Mike Murphy at UPenn.

The NCAA record books are littered with Irish names, such as Sheehan, McQuade, McIlhenny, Murphy, McBride, McCutcheon and Callahan.

Moving onto current players, the McBride brothers at Princeton, Collin Finnerty at Loyola, Brian Farrell at Maryland, Dan McQuade at Whittier, Brendan McCarthy at Richard Stockton, Dave Malone at St. John Fisher, Matt Sullivan at NY Tech, and Kyle O’Brien at Dowling are all tearing up the stat sheet for their respective teams.

Le Moyne’s Mike Malone and NYIT’s Matt Sullivan (via Lax.com)

By now you get the gist that Irish people have had a significant impact on the sport. So, for all you laxers who are Irish 1 day a year or the entire 365 days, happy laxing and Erin Go Bragh.

Editor’s note: I’ll take any excuse to post this video. Look out for the leprechaun hunter.

If the ocean was whisky,
And I was a duck,
I’d dive to the bottom
To get one sweet suck.

Enjoy a Guinness, have a shot of delicious Jameson and have a great St. Paddy’s day!

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