Jude McAtamney: NFL debutant’s fellow Swatragh folk thrilled by his achievement

McAtamney’s former primary school and secondary school classmate Declan Quinn recalled a “dead on lad”.

“I haven’t seen him in a long time. It’s good to see. It puts our wee place on the map. Nobody really knows where we are here. They know now though,” added Declan, who was watching an American Football game for the first time.

“I might have to watch it more now with Jude playing.”

Longtime NFL fan Peter Doherty couldn’t hide his excitement at seeing a local man playing in front of over 80,000 spectators at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

“I did the fantasy NFL team on the way up here and picking a guy who lives 30 minutes up the road to feature in the fantasy team is just something else,” added Peter.

“Getting an opportunity….I don’t think a lot of people thought it would happen.”

Doherty believes McAtamney and Down man Charlie Smyth forging NFL careers could lead to further gaelic football players trying their luck in the USA.

“Jude’s earned his shot and he’s doing rightly tonight and hopefully he’ll get a few more games to demonstrate that,” he added.

“I think the likes of Jude and Charlie will be pioneers in that respect and that people will see what’s possible.”