The Connacht Senior Football Championship gets under way at Gaelic Park at 6 pm this Saturday with New York versus Leitrim. The Big Apple Boys have been participating in this competition since 1999, and have never won a game, but have come very close on a few occasions. However there is a belief that this could be the end of the long losing streak, and New York could be heading across the Atlantic for the second round.
After New York lost to Sligo last year by 1-16 to 0-15, I spoke with Johnny McGeeney, and naturally he was very disappointed. The New York manager felt that New York was the better team for much of the game, but failed to capitalize sufficiently on their possession and scoring opportunities.
In addition, he noted, that New York didn’t have much luck, as they hit the woodwork three times. The New York lineout was: Mickey Cunningham, Jamie Boyle(capt), Alan Campbell, Colin Keane, Sean Reilly, Paddy Boyle, Dan O’Sullivan(0-2), Jack Reilly(0-1), Mark Ellis, Johnny Glynn, Adrian Varley(0-4), Tiernan Mathers, Niall Madine(0-4), Peter Fox(0-1), Mikey Brosnan(0-1). Subs used were Cillian Butler, Shane Brosnan, Connell Aherne, Ger McCullagh, and Jamie Davis. However McGeeney finished his assessment on a very positive note and proclaimed, “next year will be our year”.
New York did participate in the Tailteann Cup against Offaly in Tullamore, but were well beaten, 3-17 to 0-11. Of course Offaly were a Division 2 team and New York were forced to play without a few key starters from the Sligo game.
Sligo’s Mikey Gordon and Mark Ellis of New York in action in the Connacht Championship game at Gaelic Park in 2022. [Inpho/Andy Marlin]
Leitrim are New York’s opponents this year and are, by any objective analysis, regarded as the weakest team in Connacht. In the past Leitrim/New York games have been close, with Leitrim edging ahead after extra time in two of the three previous encounters. They last met in 2018 with Leitrim winning 0-19 to 1-15 after extra time, and New York even led by 6 points at the end of the first quarter. Doing the business for New York were: Vinnie Cadden, Neil Collins(0-1), Donal Ward, Mike Creegan, Enda Williams, Tom Cunniffe(capt), Mathew Queenan, David Culhane, Shane Hogan(1-0), Tony Donnelly(0-3), Jamie Clarke(0-5), Luke Kelly(0-1), Kevin O’Grady(0-3), Dalton McDonagh, David Freeman. Subs were Daniel McKenna, John Collins, Paddy Boyle, JJ Mathews, Aaron Cunningham and Keith Scally. Leitrim lined out as follows: Diarmuid McKiernan, Paddy Maguire, Michael McWeeney, Oisin Madden, James Rooney, Donal Wrynn(capt), Shane Quinn(0-2), Mark Plunkett (0-1), Domhaill Flynn, Jack Heslin, Emlyn Mulligan(0-3), Ryan O’Rourke(0-2), Darragh Rooney(0-1), Keith Beirne(0-7), Brendan Gallagher. Subs were Dean McGovern(0-1), Ronan Kennedy, Conor Gaffney, Noel Plunkett(0-1), Aidan Flynn(0-1).
The report noted that Jamie Clarke, David Culhane, Tom Cunniffe and Shane Hogan were New York’s best players, while Shane Quinn was named Leitrim’s best player. However, perhaps the most interesting statistic is that there are about 10 Leitrim players in the current squad from five years ago, though hardly any survivors from New York, perhaps other than Paddy Boyle. I’m just surmising as at this stage, as I’m not privy to the final roster. Incidentally Leitrim’s back Paddy Maguire played 10 years ago, when Leitrim walloped New York by a score of 4-19 to 0-7, with Emlyn Mulligan, who just announced his retirement from the squad last week, clocking 3-7.
Aside from meeting a predictably manageable opponent, New York has another reason to be motivated, assuming they can get across the first hurdle. They certainly got the handy side of the scheduling. London plays Sligo and the winner of that bout plays the winners of the New York/ Leitrim game. So it’s conceivable that you could reach the Connacht final before encountering any of the big three, namely, Mayo, Galway and Roscommon in this scenario.
‘Red Square cameraman’
Meanwhile back to local matters I wandered over to Gaelic Park last week to survey the scene and get an update on proceedings. Well the repo man, the tax or a disowned relative would have been more cordially received. Indeed I’d have safer with a camera in Moscow’s Red Square than Gaelic Park in the Bronx. Apparently I was perceived as a Leitrim spy rather than a reporter. Of course, I’m a Leitrim man. Sure, I was involved with Leitrim football in the 1970s —my main claim to fame being a sub on a Leitrim team that beat Mayo in a replay in ’76, and was still a sub in ’77 for the infamous defeat to London.
Then it was off to New York, allegedly for a career break. Since then I have been involved in the New York GAA scene in many different roles, ranging from player, coach, referee, trainer, selector, manager and reporter. In the early years I was New York’s manager along with Pat Scanlan and Leslie McGettigan. Later I was a selector and trainer when New York played Leitrim in 2003. Indeed I didn’t enhance my status with the Leitrim supporters by consorting with the enemy. Seamus Clarke, the current Leitrim sponsor nearly wanted me ostracized from the Leitrim community for being involved with the opponent.
Of course we quickly reconciled after the match, and Seamus made sure I was seated beside Leitrim’s all-star Seamus Quinn at the after-game dinner. In that bruising battle Big Kenny and the Mighty Quinn had to take an early shower. James Orr, the poet, wrote that the savage loves his native shore, and of course by extension you love your native county team. So, truthfully I’m definitely between a rock and a very hard place. Though, St. Mathew, in his Sermon on the Mount, “claimed that no man can serve two masters: for either you hate one and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other” For me I can’t lose here, one of my favorite teams has to win.
Great commitment
New York’s preparations have been progressing well, they have been training three times a week since December, without missing a session as we’ve had a very mild winter. Manager Johnny McGeeney and his backroom team of Garett Bailey, Brian Henry, Tommy Quaid and Michael Caterson, have got a great commitment from a very large and dedicated group of players. It’s reported as being the fittest, strongest and most skillful team to represent New York in recent times. The assessment is based on the fact that all the players are available from last year, plus the panel has been reinforced by a cadre of high caliber recent transfers. Among them are the Kerry duo, Gavin O’Reilly(Kerins O’Rahilly), a half forward and Robert Wharton(Renard) a defender, both players had a numbers of outings with the Kerry seniors.
Also joining the panel is Tipperary dual star Bill Maher(Moyle Rovers), a vastly talented central player, with Munster medals at u 18, 21, and senior level. Galway’s tigerish defender, Eoghan Kerin(Annaghdown), is also in town and perhaps he’s best known for the tackle on the misfortunate Tom Parsons(Mayo). The most high profile player joining the squad is Dublin’s Shane Carthy(Naomh Mearnog), a midfielder, who has won All-Ireland medals in every grade with the Dubs. Laois player Shane Butler, another tough-tackling and tight defender is also on the panel. So when you factor in the recent additions along with team members from last year such as Mike Cunningham. Alan Campbell, Paddy Boyle, Jamie Boyle, Dan O’Sullivan, Johnny Glynn, Mark Ellis, Connell Aherne, Adam Loughlin-Stones, Niall Madine, Jack Reilly, the Brosnan brothers, Mikey and Shane, the Mathers brothers, Tiernan and Conor, Colin Keane. Cillian Butler, Jamie Davis. Mike Boyle, and Danny Corridan, you definitely have a very formidable squad. A dozen or more have senior intercounty experience and I’m told the odds on New York are 3 to 1. The only drawback to New York is that they have no competitive games, and whether some of these new additions have reached their sell by, I mean their play by date.
Good NFL campaign
Leitrim had a respectable league campaign, they won four games and lost three, but manager Andy Moran was very disappointed that they failed to get promotion. They beat London, Waterford, Carlow and Laois, and lost to Wicklow, Wexford and Sligo. They had a very good win over Laois, 2-14 to 0-18 in their second last game. Then in the last game against Sligo, they were adrift by eight points in the second half but battled back, courtesy of goals from Barry McNulty and Aidan Flynn to go ahead with just a few minutes left, but Sligo finished strongly, 1-15 to 2-11, and denied Leitrim a chance at promotion and a trip to Croke Park. Leitrim’s last lineout was: Nevin O’Donnell, Adam Reynolds, Mark Diffley, Conor Reynolds, Domhaill Flynn, Shane Quinn, Adian Flynn(1-0), Pearce Dolan, Paul Keaney, Paddy Maguire, Keith Beirne(0-3), Darragh Rooney(0-3), Evan Sweeney(0-1), Donal Wrynn(0-2), Mark Plunkett. Subs were Conor Farrell, Jack Heslin, Tom Prior(0-1), Barry McNulty (1-1), James Rooney.
Incidentally Keith Beirne was top scorer of all league divisions, 5 gls. 48 pts. and Jack Heslin was Leitrim’s second best scorer, 2gls and 11pts. Unfortunately for Leitrim, Beirne’s scoring statistics were significantly reduced for the past two games, and the general consensus is that Leitrim are over-reliant on him for scores. Leitrim’s scoring potential has also been impacted by injuries to Jordan Reynolds, Ryan O’Rourke, Conor Dwyer and Donal Casey. Meanwhile whatever the outcome, both teams will have at least another game, the winner goes to the second round of the Connacht Championship, and the loser to the Tailteann Games. According to reports a massive exodus of Leitrim folks is heading to the game, so the McLean/Katonah nexus, once derisively labelled “Little Leitrim” by an Irish Independent journalist will definitely exude plenty of Leitrim’s culture at the weekend.
