New York 1-29 Monaghan 2-13
The Big Apple hurlers booked their spot in the final of the Lory Meagher cup with a comprehensive victory over Monaghan at Cusack Park, Mullingar, on Saturday.
However, before a puck was struck New York’s participation at the semifinal stage stoked some controversy. Monaghan boss Arthur Hughes labelled New York’s involvement at this stage “a total disgrace” and lambasted the authorities for sanctioning it. His outburst was quite ironic as the Farney boss sports a shirt emblazoned with the logo from the All-Boro Flooring Company New York, the sponsors of his team. Definitely a case of having your cake and eating it too.
Indeed the New Yorkers received a rather muted welcome from some of the hurling aficionados, claiming that the squad was too strong for this tier of competition. Their reservations were based on the fact that New York had a few former intercounty players plus some more had played minor or under 20 with typical hurling strongholds. New York were ranked as strong favorites to advance to the final Lory Meagher Cup.
Meanwhile a small troop of staunch loyal supporters headed early on Saturday morning to watch the game on a large screen at Gaelic Park. Big Apple GAA bosses Sean Price, Tom Queenan and Michelle Dowd donned culinary aprons to serve up hearty Irish breakfasts to fortify the supporters before the game began. Tom Nugent performed his waiter duties with aplomb, ably assisted by Tom Lilly. Once the game began all eyes were on the tv. In the early exchanges New York were at a pedestrian pace and struggled to find their mojo or the posts with six consecutive wides. At the other end Niall Arthur, Monaghan’s top scorer, got his team on the board with a pointed free.
On the ten minute mark David Mangan, New York’s top scorer, did likewise with a pointed free. In the opening quarter Monaghan appeared to be doing well against the breeze and rain and went two points ahead courtesy of Arthur’s frees. New York still looked strangely subdued though two more pointed frees from Mangan had matters level. On twenty minutes, Connall McHugh gave his team the lead again, but that didn’t last for long. Midfielder Darragh Walsh exploded through the middle but was brought to ground, setting the scene for another Mangan point.
Then came the major strike, a goal by AJ Willis, that energized the Big Apple squad. Now they began to play with poise and pace and pick off scores. Darragh Walsh and Tom O’Meara were controlling the middle as Mangan, Enna Barry and Cian Mullane hit over long-range points. Up front Adam Loughlin-Stones was making his presence felt, first with a deft foot pass to Willis for a score and then hitting over himself. New York led by 1-11 to 0-6 at the break, with Niall Arthur responsible for five of his team’s scores.
Upon resumption, Johnny Glynn, who had been uncharacteristically quiet in the first half, got in the flow of the action and he began to use his skill, savvy and stature to very good effect. New York fully opened the throttle and they would hit nine straight scores as they raided Monaghan territory. Niall Arthur and Ethan Flynn briefly interrupted the scoring spree. Then it was back to the Yankee script as Willis, Glynn and Loughlin Stones added another four points. For the last ten minutes New York seemed to take their foot of the pedal as Monaghan enjoyed their most productive spell, score-wise. A brace of points from Kevin Crawley and Niall Arthur ensued before Shane Slevin scrambled the ball to the net after it dithered along the goal line. A few minutes later Slevin kicked another ball to the net. At the other end Johnny Glynn looked set to goal but he scooped the ball over the bar. The late Monaghan flourish was a consolation prize and added a badly needed veneer of respectability to the scoreboard. Overall New York were much the better team as once they started firing on all cylinders, Monaghan couldn’t stay with the pace or power of the Big Apple boys. So now its on to Croke Park next Saturday for the final against Cavan. The Breffni hurlers have already won division 3B of the National League, beating Leitrim by 2-9 to 1-11. They also beat Leitrim 2-15 to 1-10 in the other semifinal of the Lory Meagher Cup. So here’s wishing manager Richie Hartnett and his hurlers the best of luck on Saturday. If the Lory Meagher comes to New York, the Big Apple squad will move up a tier to the Nicky Rackard competition next year.
New York: Daniel Mottram, Enna Barry(0-1), Henry Keyes, James Cronin-Roger, Darren O’Donoghue, Darragh Moran(0-1), Sean O’Leary-Hayes, Tom O’Meara(0-1),Darragh Walsh, Jonathon Glynn(capt, 0-3), David Mangan(0-11), AJ Willis(1-7), Ger McPartland(0-1), Adam Loughlin-Stones(0-3), Cian Mullane(0-1). Subs Colin O’Brien, James Bermingham, James Breen, Darragh Hynes, Conor O’Shea, Harry O’Connor, Cian Murray, Thomas O’Connor, Conor Hammersley, Joseph Diggins.
Monaghan: Hugh Byrne, Jack Guinan, Aaron Kenny, Paul Malone, Conor Boyle, Kevin Crawley(0-1), Oisin Hagan, James Slevin, Shane Slevin(2-0),Conal McHugh(0-1), Niall Garland, Leo Maloney(0-1), Rowan McMahon, Niall Arthur(0-8), James Brady. Subs Dylan Aree, Gareth Mohan, Michael Lyons(0-1) Aaron McGee, Enda Brady, Emmet Walsh, Paudie Heavin, Ethan Flynn(0-1)Lorcan Murphy, Declan Hughes, Declan Crowe. Man of Match AJ Willis.
Westmeath too
strong for Kerry
Westmeath 2-20 Kerry 1-17
This senior football match pitted Kerry, the 2024 champions, against Westmeath, the runners up. Despite it being a cold, wet and miserable evening, these teams served up a top class game. Westmeath’s recent arrival Jack Torpey opened his team’s account with a point. Kerry replied with three consecutive points courtesy of Donal Hunt, Bobby O’Regan and Oliver McLean. Well it was nearly tit for tat as every possession was feverishly if not furiously contested. Westmeath jumped ahead with fine scores from Kieran Murphy, Darragh Carmody and Brian Coughlan(2).
Kerry were right back on their tail as James Walsh landed a two-pointer. Well what’s good for the goose is good for the gander as Daniel O’Sullivan struck an equally impressive shot from distance. That duo was followed by another resulting from unparliamentary language from the side line. Kerry responded with points from James Wash and Eoghan McElligott but wayward kickouts was denying them crucial possession. With five minutes left Westmeath’s Murphy and Monaghan both landed two-pointers to lead by six points. At the other end full forward Nial Madine sent a good delivery to James Walsh and he looked to have the last score of the period . Though time was up the hooter failed to alarm so play continued, and during the unscheduled time Brian Coughlan punched over a point, much to Kerry’s annoyance. Westmeath led by 0-14 to 0-9 at the break.
On resumption Westmeath looked to nearly have the game wrapped up in the first five minutes. First Killian Butler showed his pace and power as he cut through for a goal and Joshua Gahan followed with a point to double the scores, 1-15 to 0-9. Kerry midfielder Liam Kearney generated some badly needed momentum for his team with some fine catches and long accurate deliveries. The first he hit to his target man Niall Madine, who was duly fouled, leaving Bobby O’Regan to point the resultant free. Another fine fetch and long delivery saw Madine muscle his way pasted defenders and rattle the net. Westmeath came back with two courtesy of Daniel O’Sullivan and Darragh Carmody.
Kerry’s resurgence, with Kearney as the driving force, was whittling away Westmeath’s lead with points from Donal Hunt, David Langan and Oliver McLean to just be four adrift midway in the period. However that’s as close as Kerry would get as Westmeath stepped on the gas again. First, New York’s top forward Jack Robinson buried a goal and Joshua Gatan should have had another but blasted over with just the keeper Tom Harte to beat. Then Garvin Lee, another of the Rockland contingent, shipped over a point. In fairness to Kerry, though the deficit was mushrooming again, they battled away with late points from Bobby Regan(2) and Conor Lynam.
Overall Westmeath were deserving winners as the defense was well marshalled by Tadgh O’Riordan, Jack Healy, Joshua Gagan, while upfront they had a variety of scoring options with Brian Coughlan, the two Jacks, Robinson and Torpey, Cillian Butler and Garvin Lee. Besides Liam Kearney, catching the eye for the Kingdom were Nial Madine, Keith Quinn, Donal Hunt, Bobby O’Regan and Oliver McLean.
Westmeath: Patrick Guerin, Brendan Holton, Tadhg O’Riordan, Christian Madigan, Daniel O’Sullivan, Joshua Gahan, Jack Healy, Stephen Monaghan, Kieran Murphy, Garvin Lee, Killian Butler, Jack Torpey, Jack Robinson, Brian Coughlan, Darragh Carmody. Subs Peter McKinney, Oran Power, Keith Scally, Sean Moore.
Kerry: Tom Harte, Shane Bolger, Keith Quinn, Shane Doheny, Peter Fox, Donal Hunt, James Walsh, Liam Kearney, Eoghan McElligott, Oliver McClean, Bobby O’Regan, James Kilgarriff, Conor Lynam, Niall Madine, David Langan. Subs Luke Barrett, Edmond Myers, Michael Kelly, Creagh Courtney, Man of Match Jack Robinson, Referee Peter McCormack
