Page 6 - INTO THE WEST - March-April 2018

Leitrim survive Big Apple epic
CONNACHT SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTER-FINAL
New York............. 1-15 Leitrim .............0-19
Plunkett the hero with late, late winner
Noel Plunkett of Leitrim kicked the winner for Leitrim at Gaelic Park in New York, USA.
Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
T By JOHN FALLON Media West Ireland
in New York
challenge and that it would take a huge effort from us to win it.
HEy have never come closer but at the end of a gripping encounter in the
“But we kept our composure and it was great to get the win at the end,” he said.
Bronx the new york players
slumped to ground and tasted the all too familiar heartbreak that has dogged them for 20 years.
There was a festival atmosphere at Gaelic Park with 1,500 travelling support- ers from Leitrim being joined by others from all along the east coast of the United States, while the home fans were also out in force.
This was the one where they were expected to deliver and while they died with their boots on, Leitrim came with a late surge to break their hearts.
new york were hoping to crown the 90th anniversary of the opening of Gaelic Park with their first ever win in 20 games in the Connacht championship.
noel Plunkett was the hero for Leitrim with a 91st minute winner at the end of a dramatic Connacht SFC clash at Gaelic Park.
Any doubts Leitrim had about the qual- ity of the new york challenge weren’t long being dispelled by a fired-up new york side who raced into a 1-4 to 0-1 lead after just ten minutes.
The Exiles were poised for an historic win only for Leitrim to come with a later surgeat Gaelic Park.
new york couldn’t close the deal as Leitrim, who did not panic at any stage, came with a late rally to snatch victory.
noel Plunkett kicking a dramatic winner in the first minute of stoppage time.
Paddy Maguire had his hands full trying to contain Jamie Clarke with new york keeping just the Armagh native and two other forwards in their half when they hadn’t possession, and then they would break from deep with pace.
Aiden Flynn and darragh rooney got them within a point and then in the final minute Shane UQinn brust through and saw his goal effort tipped over by Vinny Cadden to level the match.
Leitrim manager Brendan Guckian praised his men for snatching a dramatic win in a gripping Connacht SFC title.
They didn’t finish there either, with
“Fair play to the lads, they never panicked and they never gave up. We knew new york would come with a big
david Culhane and new york native Shane Hogan got on top in midfield for
TheLeitrimteamthatlinedoutagainstNewYork. PhotobyStephenMcCarthy/Sportsfile
Page 6 – INTO THE WEST