New York face off against Mayo

The New York senior football side will face off against Mayo next Sunday in the FBD League final. The game will be played in Rockland as they celebrate the official opening of the tremendous new field. After a superb showing against Galway in the Connaught Championship New York will look forward too this opportunity against Mayo. Captain Dan Doona, Vice Captain Alan Raftery and their teammates have a point to prove as they look to emulate the New York side that beat Sligo in 2004 when Bingo Driscoll was captain and PJ Ward had a brilliant outing. This years New York side will have a backbone that possibly include Michael Sloan, Brendan Reilly, Ciaran Tavey, Ronen O’Boyle, Sean Munnelly, Pat Madden, Francie Cleary, Jason Kelly, and Joe Bell. Mayo will counter with the side that beat Galway back in February in the home final. Tom Parsons, Ronan McGarrity, Aiden O’Shea Pat Harte and the Mortimer’s, Conor and Trevor will not want to surrender the cup they won in Ireland and the contest certainly has the makings of a close encounter. They will throw the ball in at 4 p.m.  

Senior Football Final

Lovely Leitrim are champions
Leitrim 1-12 Cork 2-08

Leitrim are the New York Champions for the first time in 12 years after a nail biting encounter against a gallant Cork side. The Rebels pushed the winners into extra time and had an effort at a tying score go narrowly wide at the final buzzer. The game was level on a host of occasions with both sides having four point leads at different times only to see them get pulled back. Cork started the game with a 1-01 salvo with a defensive mix-up allowing Ger McCullough too grab the goal but they then came back into the contest with three of the next four points. Dan Doona was prominent with two of the scores from frees. After a Ger McCullough free left Cork with a three point lead, a long ball from Gary O’Driscoll was pulled down by Ken O’Connor and deposited in the net at the second attempt.

After points on the board for each side the break arrived with 1-04 a piece showing.  Cork had two of the first three points to open the second half but it could have been much more bi8t for a brilliant save by Pa Ryan on Conor Doherty when the forward soloed hard  in on goal in the second minute. A defensive struggle ensued before Cian Tobin from a free had the sides level again, Leitrim were guilty of a serious miss however when Dan Doona set John Goldrick free in front of goal and the defender shot wide.  So the game headed for the final five minutes but the sides couldn’t be split as both had further points and the game headed for extra time. The first ten minute period was scoreless. Cork had two wides from scorable positions while Leitrim also had a wide and a ball that dropped into the keeper’s hands. The winners roared out the gate in the final session. They had four consecutive scores from Mike Creegan, Gary O’Driscoll, Donal Kelleher and a fisted Dan Doona effort to put the m into what looked like an unassailable lead. With time ticking away, Cork created a thrusting attack.

Jason Kelly finished a seven player move by turning to set up for a shot on goal in the penalty area. He was fouled in the act of shooting. He received treatment and then stood up and drove the kick to the net off Pa Ryan’s outstretched leg. On the kickout Cork won possession but with the final buzzer sounding Conor Doherty drove a high kick that tailed wide and Leitrim were champions.

Leitrim 1 Pa Ryan 2 Dermot Keane 3 Stephen Brown 4 Lonan Maguire 5 John Goldrick 6 Ciaran Kelleher 7 Eoin O’Neill 8 Gary Driscoll (0-03) 9 Pat Madden 10 Colm  Cronin 11 Ken O’Connor (1-00)12 Mike Creegan (0-01)13 John O’Neill 14 Dan Doona (0-05)15 Donal Kelleher (0-02)   Subs Cian Tobin (0-01) Jamie Doolin Kieran Scanlon

Cork 1 Gary Lowney 2 Dennis McCarthy (0-01)3 Alan Raftery 4 Jonathon McDermott 5 Ciaran Kiely 6 Rory Stafford 7 Steve Garvey  8 Brendan Quigley (0-01) 9 Shane Mannion10 Francie Cleary (0-01)11 Gavin McIntire 12 Ger McCullough (1-03) 13 Conor Doherty  14 Jason Kelly (1-01)15 Padraig McMahon (0-01)Subs Ronan Caffrey  Sean Purcell, Declan Reilly, Brian Argue

Man of the Match Gary O’Driscoll (Leitrim)

Referee Lawrence McGrath