New York 3-29 Leitrim 1-16
Both New York and Leitrim had very impressive victories in the opening round of the Connacht Senior Hurling League played in the University of Galway Connacht GAA Air Dome. New York demolished Longford and Leitrim cruised past Mayo. However in their second round on Wednesday night, the end results were very similar for both teams. The first half between New York and the Galway developmental squad was quite competitive, but in the second half the Galway boys cruised comfortably to victory as New York seemed to falter and tire. Likewise there was little between neighbors Leitrim and Roscommon in the first half, but the Rossies totally dominated the second half.
Ultimately, Galway won the competition overall with a 1-25 to 1-20 win over Roscommon.
Meanwhile, having a win and a loss, New York and Leitrim met in the Shield Final. Though Leitrim got the first score from Joe Murray after twenty seconds, it was New York who went on a scoring spree for the first quarter. A foul on Trevor Fallon set the scene for David Mangan to point the resultant free. As the game progressed, New York seemed to be faster, fitter and first to the ball. Mangan and Darren O’Donoghue swung over two quick points before Aidan 0rgan worked the ball to the net after capitalizing on a long delivery from James Bermingham after five minutes. New York continued to dictate and dominate as full forward Ger McPartland scored from close range and followed up with a spectacular point as he sliced and diced his way through the Leitrim defense.
Then on ten minutes Conor Hackett landed a fine long range shot over the bar for Leitrim which seemed to invigorate them, at least temporarily. Another Leitrim attack resulted in a free from Michael Dervan which appeared to be dropping innocuously short, but the New York defense fumbled and the ball was scrambled over the line. However New York recovered well from the mishap to put four unanswered points on the board courtesy of McPartland, O’Donoghue and Organ(2). Conor Beirne and Michael Dervan hit back with two fine points to leave the score at 1-9 to 1-4 at the end of the first quarter, and that would be as close as Leitrim would get to the Yanks.
Leitrim’s Ralph McKeown and Mathew Walsh of Mayo in action in the preliminary round at the Connacht Air Dome on Jan. 2.
Both sides exchanged minor scores, Conor Lynch for New York and Michael Dervan for Leitrim, before the Big Apple boys went on another major scoring blitz that killed off the game as a contest. David Mangan, who was operating very effectively on the forty, both as a free-taker and orchestrator of the attack, pointed a free after Trevor Fallon was chopped. James Bermingham landed a superlative point from long range, and he followed with another long delivery which landed in the back of the net for a rather fortuitous goal. Then a nice delivery from Adam Loughlin-Stones set up Ger McPartland for a point before David Mangan struck a third goal for New York with ten minutes left in the period. Martin Feeney, one of Leitrim’s better players, fired over from long range, but it had little effect as New York’s Loughlin-Stones, Organ, Mangan and company continued to rain over points to have 3-20 to Leitrim’s 1-9 at the break.
Given that New York was in such an unassailable lead at the intermission, it was just a matter of running out the clock in the second half. The Big Apple management emptied their bench so all the squad got an opportunity to enjoy the occasion in this very unique setting.
Overall it was a great team effort, and obviously the rigorous training which began in mid-October paid rich dividends. New York’s play was very cohesive and coordinated with the player in possession given plenty of support and options. Naturally the big tally speaks volumes about the efficacy of the forwards, but players further back the field such as Mick Ward, Darragh Hynes, Stephen McAfee, James Bermingham, Brian McPartland and company ensured that the front men were well supplied while forcing their opposite number to live on mere scraps, though Leitrim’s Martin Feeney, Joe Murray, Gavin O’Hagan and Conor Hackett did occasionally catch the eye.
There were great scenes of jubilation as captain Stephen McAfee hoisted the silverware, as this was the first time New York had been involved in an Irish competition since the Ulster hurling championship in 2006. New York manager Richie Harnett is adamant that this victory should be a stepping stone or an apt application for further participation in Irish competitions such as the Lory Meagher. He noted that very extensive developmental work is currently being done, and that participation in bona fide competitions would be a great stimulus for the continued growth of hurling in the Big Apple. Anyway with three games in six days the lads will need a wee rest for a few days and perhaps a celebration on home turf in the Steakhouse or Ned’s, or both would be in order. Overall there were seven teams in the Connacht Senior Hurling League, there were the five Connacht teams, with Galway being restricted to players who hadn’t played senior, plus Longford, and New York.
This was my first visit to the Air Dome located at Bekan, outside of Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo, and I was absolutely astonished at this marvel of an engineering project. It houses a full-size playing area, a running track and can accommodate up to a thousand spectators. John Prenty, Secretary of the Connacht Council, informed me that it’s the biggest of its kind in the world. Now that certainly begs the question, if Connacht, a small province in the west of Ireland can have such an amazing facility, why can’t we in New York supposedly with the best of everything have something similar to it? Prenty, who played a major role in developing and promoting it, also told me that with the exception of Christmas day, there are games, teams training and events every day of the year, and it can accommodate crowds of up to twenty thousand for social or entertainment events, and weather needless to say is never a factor.
This Air Dome is highly energy efficient and environmentally sustainable as it collects roof rainwater and maximizes its solar potential, thus having the lowest possible operating expenses. One thing I grasped well about the scientific operations was, you can’t have too many doors open at the same time. You wouldn’t want the roof to fall in on you ! Meanwhile it will be back to reality and Gaelic Park for me, but of course there’s no harm in dreaming about the Air Dome Center of Excellence in the west of Ireland.
New York: Daniel Mottrom, Mick Ward, James Cronin-Rogers, Johnny Burns. James Birmingham(1-0), Darragh Hynes, Brian McPartland, Stephen McAfee(0-1), Trevor Fallon, Conor Lynch(0-1), David Mangan(1-6), Adam Loughlin-Stones(0-3), Aidan Organ(1-3), Ger McPartland(0-8), Darren O’Donoghue(0-3). Subs. Tommy Kavanagh(0-2), Lar McDonald(0-2), Enda Fahey, William Moloney, Johnny Power, Oisin Brophy, Joe McBride, James Breen, Joe McBride, Ultan O’Connor, Aidan Long.
Leitrim: Lorcan Donnellan, Paul Lennighan, Kevin Clerkin, Sean Markham, Sean Markham, Martin Feeney(0-1), David McGovern(0-1), Gavin O’Hagan(0-1), Conor Hackett(0-1), Gavin O’Brien, Clement Cunniffe, Dylan McDermott, Michael Dervan(1-3), Conor Beirne(0-1), Joe Murray(0-1). Subs Ethan Clancy, Michael O’Brien, Brendan Delaney, Tadgh Branagan, Aaron McLoughlin, Paddy Clerkin, Brian Goldrick, Ralph McKeon, Robbie Casey. Man of Match Ger McPartland.
