Start spreading the news, they’ve finally done it. After scaring the living daylights out of several teams over the years, the New York footballers recorded their first ever Connacht SFC victory in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Nobody can say it hasn’t been coming. Diaspora from this part of the world can be very proud of their contribution to the historic happenings. Not to mention those much closer to home who did their bit to make it come to fruition.
Part one of that was there for all to see on the Gaelic Park sod, courtesy of Ratoath’s Connell Ahearne kicking four points after coming on. What people mightn’t realise, though, is that none other than Graham Geraghty has been doing his bit to help the footballers of the large fruit to the next level for them. Primarily by dint of his involvement with a Universities team which not only competed in a division of the Higher Education competitions here, but won said section out. Whether many (or any) of those players were involved I’m not sure but what is certain is there’s no substitute for creating a winning culture around any group of players. As an aside, thinking of the blonde lad’s input, you know what they say about never being a prophet in your own land. Hopefully somebody in Meath will wake up and smell the coffee before it’s too late.
Even from following the game online, it was clear the Ex-pats were full value for their dramatic eventual victory. A quick scan of their team sheet would at least partially explain why too. Sporting some vastly experienced county players from here at home. Such as Bill Maher of Tipperary, Kerry’s Gavin O’Brien, Adrian Varley from Galway and – perhaps most significantly – Dublin All Ireland winner Shane Carthy. With the latter two in particular buzzing in attack, the stars and stripes led by 0-07 to 0-06 at half time. Greatest resistance on behalf of those in green and gold coming via the boot of the gifted Keith Beirne.
Andy Moran’s touring side led by 0-10 to 0-08 twelve minutes into the second half but when Meath’s Ahearne announced his arrival into the contest by winning and converting two Advanced Marks to square affairs, there was a sense that it was time to start spreading the news that they weren’t, in fact, leaving today. To their credit, though, the men from the Lovely county hung in there and when their own impact sub, Evan Sweeney, nudged them in front – 0-15 to 0-14 – one could be forgiven for assuming they were the latest to pull off the great escape Stateside.
It was a case of not tonight Josephine, though. Football’s best referee David Coldrick then found over eight minutes of stoppage time from somewhere and, at the end of them, Dublin’s Carthy put his big game nous to good use and lofted over a leveller which was the least NY deserved.
Leitrim’s Sweeney again swung the pendulum in their direction when inching them in front, 0-14 to 0-13. There’s something in the Meath DNA, however, which gravitates them to keep going when all seems lost.
Cue Ahearne’s left peg cultivating two more peaches to send the tie to the ultimate – and cruelest – deciding factor, penalties. At the end of which, New York custodian, Mick Cunningham of Down, produced a save from Paul Keaney which ensured history was made.
As special as it always is when history is made, I, for one, couldn’t but feel for Leitrim manager Andy Moran. A truly inspirational player during his lengthy service to his native Mayo, he has overseen incrimental but definite progress during his first venture into inter county management.
But the Ballaghadreen man has had no luck during his time directing operations in Pairc Mhic Diarmada. Missing out on promotion from Div. 4 by inches on the final day of the league. And then being on the wrong end of history as the city definitely didn’t sleep last night.
However, though some might look down their noses at it, for counties like Leitrim and what they are trying to achieve, the Tailteann Cup can certainly be exactly what they require and how they can improve – matches against opposition of comparable status.
If only people in certain places could, or would, see that as a good thing rather than a bad one.
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