NYPD 2-9

Galway Garda (Police) 1-11

THE contest between the rival police departments of Galway and New York took a while to get going on Saturday as the second part of the New York departments' double header. But when it did come to life it rivaled a championship encounter.

Galway had Alan Keane, the former All-Ireland winner with Galway, as their captain while New York had some guest players from New York football circles to help them in the battle at hand.

New York had a perfect start to the game, with Thomas McGovern slotting over a point before Jim McGovern finished to the net after a long ball from Robbie Moran dropped short and the bouncing football was not cleared. After a Fergal Kilbane point, New York had a further score from the lively Dan McNulty. Brian Meaney, who hails from Abbylara in Dublin, put three points on the board to get Galway back into the contest, and Jim McGovern and Pat Foley swapped scores to keep the difference at a point.

Foley should have or could have had much more as he was at the end of a long flowing movement that moved the ball the length of the field, but his screamer went over with PJ Doherty doing well to make the goal small.

Aiden Power, who had done a lot of ball carrying in the first half, had the final score of the opening 30 when he linked with Leitrim teammate Moran for an excellent score to leave the score 1-4 to 0-5 at the break for the locals.

After another Meaney point for Galway, he was making himself busy and giving the New York backs a torrid day, Joe Lyons came off the bench and with his trusty left peg fired over for the NYPD.

They followed it with three further scores from McGovern, an outstanding score from the left corner, Kevin McGeeney and Moran. McGeeney, who won a senior B medal with Cavan last week, was now pushing much further forward, and it was helping the attack.

Seemingly comfortable in the lead, the wheels came off the squad car in the 15th minute when a long ball for Galway went deep into the corner forward position. It was worked out by Fergal Kilbane to Pat Foley and the big full forward found net with a good shot.

Power had a point at the other end, but again Galway attacked. Three points from Meaney (two) and Shane Waldron, who hails from the same Milltown club as long time Galway senior player Joe Waldron, tied the game up at 1-9, with the hits and exchanges now going full blood.

The game was stopped on a couple of occasions with even the two captains getting stuck into each other. The question remains, when it's all cops in the fight who do you call to stop them!

John Fitzpatrick (the man in Green) restored order with a player headed for an early shower, and both sides poised to try for victory. When Alan Keane slotted over a point from a free for Galway it looked like it might be a match winner, but McGeeney had other plans.

He hooked up with Power and McGovern and fired a tremendous goal to put New York back in front with only moments on the clock. Despite another Keane free the local side held on for a one point victory.

The game was played in memory of Seamus McIntyre and James Madden, Seamus was born in Kenmare, Co. Kerry and played at all codes for his club. He was killed in a an official road traffic accident while on duty at the far too young age of 30.

Madden was born in Queens to Irish parents on April 17, 1962. He was one of three brothers in the police force. On April 30, 2001 he died suddenly and unexpectedly from complications due to injuries he had sustained in a car accident that occurred 13 years prior. May they rest in peace.

NYPD: 1 P.J. Doherty, 2 Andrew Donaghue, 3 Kieran Traynor, 4 Phil Birmingham, 5 Aiden Traynor, 6 Kevin McGeeney (1-1), 7 John Walsh, 8 Danny O'Sullivan, 9 Aiden Power (0-2), 10 Dan McNulty (0-1), 11 Robbie Moran (0-1), 12 Brendan Heaps, 13 Jim McGovern (1-1), 14 John O'Connell, 15 Thomas McGovern (0-2). Subs: Joe Lyons (0-1), Dermot O'Sullivan.

Galway Garda: 1 Vivian Jennings, 2 Marty Delaney, 3 Noel Gillespie, 4 Paul McBride, 5 Barry Burke, 6 Patrick Kelly, 7 Sean Durkin, 8 Shane Waldron (0-1), 9 Alan Keane (0-2), 10 Seamus McDonnell, 11 Mark Sullivan, 12 Jason Kelly, 13 Brian Meaney (0-6), 14 Pat Foley (1-1), 15 Fergal Kilbane (0-1). Subs: Ken Painter, Alan Regan.

Referee: John Fitzpatrick (Rockland).