The capacity crowd at Gaelic Park, reported to be circa 6,500, on a cool Saturday evening certainly got great value for their money. The tempo of the game was certainly at odds with the ambient temperature as this battle between New York and Leitrim was a fast-paced, physical encounter, sprinkled with some great catches and scores with plenty of thrills and spills. The referee was not too fond of the whistle, he really let them play, nearly with hammer and tongs at times. You definitely had to earn your frees, the hard way.
This game could have gone either way, it was level at full time, and after extra time, and it was in the penalty shootout that New York clinched a dramatic and historic victory that sent New York supporters into a voluminous eruption of emotion, the likes of which I have never witnessed before at Gaelic Park. This was a great team effort from New York, but two players I have to take my hat off to (though Jeanette Brosnan noted that I was wearing a Leitrim cap when I met her out earlier jogging in the morning) -- Mickey Cunningham and Mikey Brosnan.
Keeper Cunningham guarded his goal-line in a Fort Knox like fashion, pulling off several super saves by either smothering or deflecting multiple bone fide goal-bound shots.
The young Brosnan coolly blasted his penalty shot to the roof of the net to send New York to the next round of the Connacht Championship. When it comes to the young Brosie, the football cognoscenti around Gaelic Park will tell you that the apple does not fall far from the tree.
Leitrim’s Tom Prior, left, with Robert Wharton of New York. [Inpho/Sharon Redican]
After nearly a quarter of a century the Big Apple footballers have crossed the Rubicon, and are now crossing the Atlantic in two weeks to take on Sligo, who beat London on Saturday. New York can fancy their chances here, and make more history by reaching a Connacht final. Granted Sligo beat them last year by a few points, with New York having minimal luck as the posts saved Sligo’s bacon a few times. However this New York team has developed from last year into a much stronger, skillful and more experienced team, and I’m sure their confidence will be well boosted after the manner in which they took Leitrim’s scalp. Before the battle began, there was a minute’s silence to remember Sean Clarke, who recently passed away. The late Sean, a brother of Seamus, the sponsor of the Leitrim team, was a great supporter and promoter of the GAA throughout his life.
Meanwhile once the referee threw the ball in it was basically hell for leather and tit for tat. Both teams spurned early chances, Keith Beirne’s attack was off target and Adrian Varley’s effort dropped into the keeper’s hands. Then on three minutes, Paul Keaney opened the scoring from a mark after a good delivery from Mark Plunkett. Leitrim were having the better of the opening exchanges as a penetrating run by Plunkett, ended with a foul and a pointed free from Keith Beirne. A Shane Carty shot looked destined for a point, but Nevin O’Donnell managed to prevent it from going over the bar.
After seven minutes Leitrim led by three points after a strong defense-splitting run by Pearce Dolan set up Mark Plunkett for a point. A minute later Shane Carthy opened New York’s account with a pointed free after Gavin O’Brien was fouled. Leitrim were still creating chances but began to fluff them which inevitably would come back to haunt them. New York were now finding their rhythm and more importantly their men, as newcomers Gavin O’Brien and Robert Wharton were slotting in well. They would land the next two points courtesy of a fine long-range effort from Peter Fox and the younger Brosnan, Shane, who showed his undoubted class by navigating up from defense to score.
New York's Killian Butler celebrates with a fan. [Inpho/Emily Harney]
However, Leitrim returned to the driver’s seat as Keaney drew a foul and Beirne pointed the resultant 40-yards free. Then a turnover in the middle of the park set the scene for another Beirne point. Just on the quarter Leitrim should have gone five points up as a powerful run through the middle by Dolan set up Beirne for a goal chance, but keeper Cunningham pulled off the first of his many brilliant saves. Leitrim wasted another chance, but a forced Carthy turnover set the scene for Mikey Brosnan to strike from long range. Leitrim looked on target for goal but a timely tackle by Eoghan Kerin repelled the danger, but the resulting scramble paved the way for another Beirne pointed free. Leitrim continued to be on the offensive but keeper Cunningham was quickly off as a long ball from James Rooney sent Beirne in on goal but Cunningham was quickly off his line to negate the shot. Play switched to the other side and a well-directed ball from Mikey Brosnan ended with a lovely point from speedster Daniel O’Sullivan. Still Leitrim continued to set up goal chances but this time Heslin’s shot hit the outside of the net.
As the period wore on, Adrian Varley levelled up and then just on the half hour Carthy uncharacteristically missed a free that would have put New York ahead. However the former Dub star, who began his illustrious football career with the New York Rangers was on target with his next attempt after Shane Brosnan carried deep from defense. Indeed New York looked to be two ahead, but the ref after consultation with officials ruled Mark Ellis’s effort wide, much to the displeasure of very vocal New York fans, to leave the score 0-7 to 0-6 in favor of the home side at the break.
On resumption, Leitrim quickly leveled up as a strong run by Heslin set up Plunkett for a point. However Varley had New York back in front after a patient build up involving Glynn, O’Brien and Shane Brosnan. Leitrim had another missed goal opportunity, but Kerin thwarted a Heslin attempt before Leitrim put three unanswered points on the board courtesy of Beirne frees to go two up after 15 mins. A few players were yellow carded and the tit-for-tat nature of the game continued as New York went on a short scoring spree. Connell Aherne was certainly a very impactful sub, he fired over from long range after claiming a mark, and repeated the act two minutes later as keeper O’Donnell failed to prevent the high-dropping ball from crossing the bar. At the other end Leitrim’s litany of lost or wasted chances continued as Keaney was forced to cough up the ball. New York were still calling the shots as shot-stopper Cunningham showed he could score too as he belted over a placed ball from distance to put New York ahead with about 10 mins left. Evan Sweeney tied things up with a spectacular point a minute later, but what looked like a go-ahead point was taken down on the line by the imposing and impressive Glynn. Sweeney repeated with another massive effort to put Leitrim back in front in injury time. However a massive fetch in the middle by Glynn, and after bursting through a few hefty tackles set the scene for sub Jack Reilly to equalize.
The teams parade ahead of the game [Inpho/Emily Harney]
Then 4 mins into added time it looked as if Leitrim would scrape home with a victory as Beirne capitalized on a fine run by Aidan Flynn to go one up. New York didn’t panic, they worked the ball methodically and cautiously until they got it to their talisman, Carthy, and game was tied up at 0-13 each after 77 mins of regular time, thus sending the game into extra time .
Leitrim started well as a Sweeney point put them ahead, and they looked destined to finally open a gap as Oisin McLoughlin rifled a shot at Cunningham, but once again the keeper responded with a great save at the expense of a “45”. Nothing was gained from this spot kick as again Glynn rose high again to the occasion.
It was soon level as Aherne pointed for a foul on Reilly. Aherne was now looking like a super sub as he sent over a fire long rage effort just at the end of the first period of extra time, score at 0-15 to 0-14 in New York’s favor.
When play resumed Tiernan Mathers looked set to goal, but came to naught before Beirne pointed from a mark, despite lots of negative reinforcement from the New York supporters. Then both sides had let-offs as Carthy hit the post, and Paddy Maguire skinned the post. Leitrim still had chances to put the game away as Plunkett shot across the goalmouth and a last ditch Sweeney effort was fielded safely by Cunningham as time ran out, thus sending the game to penalties. Tiernan Mather’s and Paul Keaney’s penalties were brilliantly saved, as were Cillian Butler’s and Keith Beirne’s. Niall Madine banged his in, while Shane Quinn hit the crossbar. Then Mikey Brosnan’s shot, besides bulging the net, booked the Big Apple boys a coveted spot in the second round of the Connacht championship.
New York were deserving winners, as they kept their composure, were disciplined and focused, especially when the tide was not going their way.
Overall it was a great team performance, with captain Johnny Glynn passionately leading the way, plus all substitutions had very positive impacts. However the most pertinent statistic was that New York availed much more expeditiously from their scoring opportunities than their opponents. Leitrim may have dominated the possession stakes somewhat, but in a close game you can’t afford not to avail of at least a half dozen bone fide goal chances, plus there was approximately a dozen and a half verifiable point opportunities wasted. Even the fluffed goal opportunities would nearly all have been relatively facile opportunities to punch over.
However you cannot underestimate the performance of New York’s keeper Mickey Cunningham, and Man of the Match. He was not just brilliant in match play, but he also made sure that the penalties were shutout during the shootout. It was also great to see players such as the Brosnan brothers, Jamie Boyle and Tiernan Mathers, products of the Minor Board excel on the big stage. I spoke with manager Johnny McGeeney after the match and naturally he was elated. He stated that he was very proud of this historic achievement, and the Armagh man was extremely grateful for the great commitment that he got from the whole panel and his backroom team. From early on in the he stressed that there was a great hunger in the camp, and that was accentuated by the chance to make history. Well, history has been made and the long losing streak is not consigned to its bin. This is New York’s greatest victory since they beat Mayo in Castlebar in the final of the Gael Linn Cup in 1984, and when, about 20 years ago, they beat Sligo in the competition that was then called the FBD Cup.
New York: Mickey Cunningham(0-1), Jamie Boyle, Alan Campbell, Eoghan Kerin, Bill Maher, Robert Wharton, Shane Brosnan(0-1), Johnny Glynn(capt), Gavin O’Brien, Mark Ellis, Adrian Varley, Shane Carty(0-4), Mikey Brosnan(0-1), Peter Fox(0-1), Daniel O’Sullivan(0-1). Subs Connell Aherne(0-4), Killian Butler and Mathew Queenan for Adrian Varley and Bill Maher, Jack Reilly(0-1) for Daniel O’Sullivan, Tiernan Mathers for Johhny Glynn, Paddy Boyle for Robert Wharton.
Leitrim: Nevin O’Donnell, Paddy Maguire, Mark Diffley, Conor Reynolds, Conor Farrell, Shane Quinn, James Rooney, Pearce Dolan, Donal Wrynn(capt), Jack Heslin, Mark Plunkett(0-2), Keith Beirne(0-9), Aidan Flynn, Paul Keaney(0-1),Tom Prior. Subs Adam Reynolds for Colm Reynolds, Barry McNulty for Conor Farrell, Evan Sweeney(0-3) for Tom Prior, Domhaill Flynn for Paul Keaney, Oisin McLoughlin for Jack Heslin, Cillian McGloin for Aidan Flynn, Paul Keaney for Donal Wrynn.
Referee David Goldrick(Meath), Man of Match Mickey Cunningham.
