Shannon Gaels 2-15 Cork 1-15
It took extra time to determine a winner in this exhilarating Junior B final played under oppressive heat conditions. In the opening quarter Cork dominated as Alan Raftery and Ger McCullagh held sway in the middle. Eoghan O’Dwyer opened the scoring from a good pass from corner man Mickey Lenaghan. The Rebels then struck a goal as Rian Hilliard intercepted a kickout and set up Lenaghan for the major strike. Donal Casey and Shaun McNamee added further points before the Gaels got on the board after captain Kelly set up Liam O’Rourke for their first score, though they had a spurned a few early opportunities.
After the water break O’Rourke was on target again after a pass from Keelan Kenny. Cork were still in the driving seat as Lenaghan and Gary Lowney shot over points. However the Gaels were finding their groove as their sharpshooter Fiachra Mathers hit over a free, and midfielder John Collins lofted over a two-pointer just at the break, leaving the score at 1-5 to 0-5. Cork looked to be still in control in the third quarter as they scored four points courtesy of O’Dwyer(2), Lenaghan and McCullagh, while limiting Gaels to a single from Mathers.
The fourth quarter belonged to the Gaels, they hit 1-5 on the trot. Sean Kelly led the way before Mathers struck a goal culminating from a deft pass from Keelan Devlin. Kelly added another before Mathers hit a brace, one from a turnover and the other a pass from Kelly, to go two up. However Cork finished with a brace, one deflected over and the other from an O’Dwyer free, to leave all square at 1-11, thus necessitating extra time. Shannon Gaels got the perfect start in extra time as Sean Kelly set up Eoin Reid for a goal, and Fiachra Mathers added to his impressive stats with a point from a turnover. However, Cork got a point back, courtesy of the contentious breach rule. On the turnover the Gaels added two more points but Cork added three to stay in the hunt. However, at this stage it was a battle of attrition as the fitter, faster and younger Gaels had the physical advantage over a Rebel squad that was bedeviled by injuries and a limited bench. Overall the Gaels were worthy winners with a more balanced squad. Captain Kelly was like a field general, showing up where the need was greatest and sharpshooter Mathers gets the job done when the opportunity presented. The Rebels, despite the age profile and limited numbers, certainly went down fighting.
Shannon Gaels: Josh Fitzpatrick, Oisin Foy, Ben Quinn, Nico Shannon, Carl O’Connor. Dylan Gunning, Kyle Brennan, Tom McCarthy, John Collins, Julian Jamshahi, Liam O’Rourke, Jack Larkin, Fiachra Mathers, Eoin Reid, Sean Kelly(capt). Subs. Keelan Kenny, George, Sekavec, Devlin Kenny, Salmir Kolenovic. Pearse Crowley, Eamon Dobey, Shane Deane, Conor Buckley, Michael Fay.
Cork: Brian Corcoran, Denis McCarthy, Patrick Harrington, Liam Hanley, Enda Lowney, Paul O’Connor, Ryan Hilliard, Ger McCullagh, Alan Raftery, James Woods, Shaun McNamee, , Donal Casey, Mickey Lenaghan, Gary Lowney, Eoghan O’Dwyer. Subs Declan Reilly, Adrian Croston, Tadgh Foley, Derek Courtney. Man of Match Sean Kelly, Referee Brendan Rooney.
Season wrap-up
This final brought the curtain down on the playing scene for the 2025 season. Overall, under the leadership triumvirate, Chairperson Sean Price, Secretary Tommy Kavanagh and Treasurer Marty Moss, plus a coterie of dedicated officials, the ever-growing portfolio of games was organized and managed very expeditiously. The records show that 191 football and 35 hurling games were played for a grand total of 226, and that included adult games from the senior, intermediate and junior ranks. Approximately 80% of the games were played in Gaelic Park, while the remainder were in Rockland, Frank Golden Park(Queens), Redmond Field(Yonkers) and Duchess County. Multiple playing locations is certainly a great asset to the Big Apple GAA, and a welcome relief from the days when New York had to jostle with rival sports to commander a patch to stage games in Van Cortlandt Park.
Perhaps the greatest asset in recent times has been the acquisition and development of Redmond Field and related facilities by the New York Minor Board. Playing major roles here are Danny Brown, Mike Brosnan, Owen Cummins, Pat Mahoney, Tom Queenan and Philip Wickham. Fr Brendan Fitzgerald, the pastor at St Barnabas Parish, has also being very helpful in setting aside a meeting room as well an area that has been designed into a gymnasium for use by the GAA under the direction of Johnny McGeeney.
The role of honor for 2025 shows that Kerry retained the senior football title with an overwhelming performance over Cavan. Shannon Gaels got the better of Rockland in the intermediate ranks, and the Queens club will be promoted to the senior division next year. Longford ascended to the Intermediate division by overcoming the challenge of Rangers in the Junior A final. The Junior B 1 group saw Shannon Gaels claim the crown at Cork’s expense. In the Junior B 11 group, Tyrone bested Galway. In senior hurling Westmeath closed a 29-year gap by defeating Hoboken in the final. In junior hurling Tipperary topped Le Cheile.
Overseas’ Competitions
New York competed in three overseas competitions, namely the All-Ireland junior football championship, the Lory Meagher and the Tailteann Cups, and were successful in two out of the three. The juniors began their quest for three-in-a-row with a tough battle against USGAA in the quarter final, ending all square, 1-5 a piece. In extra time points from Shay McElligott and Mikey Brosnan and a late goal from Jack Healy secured the victory, 2-8 to 2-7. The semifinal was played at the Center of Excellence at Abbotstown, where New York defeated Warwickshire, 2-12 to 1-11. New York trailed at the break, 0-7 to 0-4, but a powerful second half, based on goals from Jack Healy and Colm Shalvey helped propel them over the line. Joint top scorers were Jack Healy(1-2) and Brian Coughlan(0-5). Others hitting the target were Colm Shalvey(1-0), Lorcan Kennedy(0-2), Ian Kavanagh, Aaron Traynor and Emmet Loughran, a point each. Then it was on to Croke Park for the final, where they beat London in another close encounter, 0-20 to 2-13. This was another pulsating contest for Mick Healy’s charges as London jumped into a four points lead, but a personal tally of nine points from Brian Coughlan and two two-pointers from Gearoid Kennedy had the Yanks in pole position. Late points from Lorcan Kennedy and Emmet Loughran ensured that the silverware was heading back to New York for the third time. The All-Ireland junior lineout: Pat Guerin, Paidi Mathers, Dylan Curran, Ruairi O’Riordan, Ian Kavanagh(0-1), Kevin Rafferty, Aaron Traynor, Gearoid Kennedy(0-4), Conor Mathers, Lorcan Kennedy, Jack Healy(0-1), Garvin Lee(0-1), Ronan Melly, Brian Coughlan(0-9), Danny Corridan(0-1). Subs used: Emmet Loughran(0-2), Colm Shalvey, James Donovan, Eoin Kennedy, Chris Mulvihill.
The New York hurlers claimed the Lory Meagher Cup by defeating Cavan in the final. On the way they dispensed with Monagan, by 1-29 to 2-13, at Cusack Park Mullingar. Top scorer was David Mangan(0-11), while man of match AJ Willis clocked 1-7. Others featuring on the score sheet were captain Johnny Glynn(0-3), Adam Loughlin Stones(0-3), Tom O’Meara, Cian Mullane, Darragh Moran and Enna Barry. Then it was on to Croke Park where New York, 4-17 to 2-17 had two goals to spare over a valiant but out-hurled Breffni squad. Leading scorer David Mangan finished with 1-7, but Dara Walsh, AJ Willis and Thomas O’Connor also banged in goals. Cavan trailed by 4 goals entering the last quarter but managed to claw two back, buy the Yanks still managed to maintain a safe distance ahead, enabling Johnny Glynn to hoist the Lory Meagher Cup The victorious New York team was: David Mottram, Enna Barry, Henry Keyes, James Cronin Rodgers, Daren O’Donohue, Daragh Moran, Sean O’Leary Hayes, Tom O’Meara, Adam Loughlin Stones(0-3), Conor Hemmersley(0-1), David Mangan(1-7), AJ Willis(1-1), Tomas O’Connor(1-0) Jonathon Glynn(0-2), Dara Walsh(1-1). Subs James Bermingham, Gerard McParland, Aidan Organ(0-1), Brian McPartland, Daragh Hynes. Next year New York will move up a tier and compete in the Nicky Rackard Cup.
In football Ronan McGinley’s charges were given a tough assignment in the Connacht championship, opponents Galway were last year’s All-Ireland finalists and also the top team in Connacht. The Big Apple squad did well in the first half as just three points, 1-12 to 0-12, separated the teams at the break. That changed dramatically in the second a Galway cruised comfortably to victory on a scoreline of 3-28 to 0-20. Most notable for New York were keeper Grace’s saves, Frank O’Reilly’s two pointers and points from Jack Robinson and Bobby O’Regan. In the Tailteann Cup, New York’s performance was very disappointing against Offaly. They trailed by 1-14 to 0-2 at the break, but rallied in the last quarter to score 1-10, still the scoreboard read 2-25 to 1-12 in Tullamore. Most notable was a brilliant goal from Bobby O’Regan(1-4), others on the scoring sheet were Frank O’Reilly(0-3), Jack Robinson(0-2) and Kieran Murphy. Next year New York play Roscommon, and the word is that Connacht teams do not wish to continue with this arrangement after that. Naturally New York will strive to maintain the existing schedule as it is a wonderful weekend for the diaspora in New York and further afield.
