Meet the men who made GAA Championship history for New York
HISTORY MAKERS: Meet the men who made GAA Championship history for New York Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
Down-born goalkeeper Mick Cunningham was man of the match for a lot of people. Before he saved a pair of penalties in the shootout, the Brooklyn Shamrocks player prevented Leitrim goal opportunities in all manner of ways including a well timed interception of Leitrim full forward and top scorer Keith Beirne in the first half.
Corner back Jamie Boyle was one of the New York native-born players for whom Saturday night was so special. A county champion with St Barnabas in 2020 and 2021, he has developed as a player under the watchful eye of Johnny McGeeney and it all showed against Leitrim with some great tackling.
Alan Campbell won a famous Munster Championship with Tipperary in 2020 before his move to New York. As a Brooklyn Shamrocks player last year, he ended up on the wrong end of a penalty shoot out against Westmeath NY in a losing senior county final. This win over Leitrim will have been a happy redemption.
Galway’s Eoghan Kerin was nominated for an All Star in 2018 after the Annaghdown corner back enjoyed a breakout year for the Tribesmen. With two Connacht senior titles included in his CV, he was a key reason why Leitrim were held at bay when the favourites failed to take advantage of their purple patches.
Another Tipperary intercounty player, Bill Maher, was brought to New York by work and reached out to McGeeney of his own accord, looking to get involved with the panel of his new home. And just like Campbell, the JT Magen employee will be hoping the Brooklyn Shamrocks go one better this summer.
A Kerry minor in his day, Renard’s Rob Wharton knocked around the Kingdom’s senior panel for trials before taking the life leap with a move to New York last year when a concussion kept him out of action all summer. He was calmness personified on Saturday evening, dropping deep for passes when past New York teams would have panicked and punted long.
The younger of the two St Barnabas Brosnan brothers, Shane looked anything but the 20-year-old debutant thrown “into the deep end” as his manager stated during the week. He ran himself into the ground up and down the left flank before proudly watching his sibling score the clinching penalty.
Arguably the most well known member of this setup, captain Johnny Glynn made his name in the other code during Galway’s All-Ireland hurling success in 2017 but he is now a cornerstone of the McGeeney project, so much so that his torn hamstring didn’t keep him out of this clash and he lasted deep into extra time.
Glynn wouldn’t have survived so long without his midfield partner and another man of the match contender, Gavin O’Brien, who was a rock that rattled key Leitrim players to their core. The Kerins O'Rahillys clubman played with the Kingdom under Peter Keane and his deep experience was crucial over the course of almost 100 minutes of football.
Mark Ellis, also a duel player and also a revered leader in the camp retained from the los against Sligo last year. Ask anyone, the former Cork hurler will be described as quiet, dignified and driven but when great leadership is needed, Ellis will be listened to. The Millstreet and Duhallow player lines out with one of the newer New York clubs, O’Donovan Rossa from Queens.
Talented Galway forward Adrian Varley was probably stung more than any player when the team fell short a year ago and he, like Glynn, refused to let an injury keep him out of contention and scored points in each of normal time before withdrawing from action to save himself for the semi-final.
One of the best stories of the camp, Shane Carthy was a toddler when he told now New York Chairperson Joan Henchy that the visiting Sam Maguire trophy would be something he would win one day. He holds the record for the youngest player at 16 to win a New York senior club championship before he made his Dublin debut two years later. The most crucial of his four points on Saturday was the one that forced extra time.
Mikey Brosnan wasn't born when Connacht GAA accepted New York’s application to join their provincial championship. On Saturday, the 22-year-old was given the daunting but dream task of scoring New York’s fifth penalty, securing a 2-0 shootout win for the ages. He will be remembered forever in the Bronx and beyond.
Tyrone’s Peter Fox was a late addition to the first 15, replacing the injured Paddy Boyle, and the Greencastle clubman who arrived in New York not long before lockdown three years ago, looked more like an inspired tactical switch with two first half points that raised belief levels around Gaelic Park.
Daniel O'Sullivan covered every blade of astro turf, a beloved workhorse of the squad whose 24th minute point turned things around for the hosts and paved the way for what would eventually become a half-time lead.
This year, Johnny McGeeney was able to enjoy a deep bench of players to call on and no one answered the call better than Ratoath’s Connell Ahearne who immediately settled into second half action with two calm and composed marks in quick succession, both scored, followed by two more frees in the first half of extra time that all ensured the unbelievable finale.
Killian Butler is a London native whose home club Tir Chonail Gaels have already tweeted their pride of their locally developed footballing ambassador. He replaced Varley when the Galway man’s tackle of a Leitrim man deep in New York territory ended his evening and brought the impressive Butler into action with 52 minutes on the clock. He wasn’t to know there was still another almost 50 minutes of stress left to cope with.
Mayo’s Jack Reilly is a cousin of local GAA legend and former county player Sean who inspired his New York born cousin to join him at St Barnabas and help complete that history making panel. He was introduced as 73rd minute sub and immediately scored an equalising point to make it 0-12 each before the two sides swapped a point more each.
Arguably the most talented footballer in town, Down’s Niall Madine showed some flashes of his brilliance when New York needed composure but of course it was his penalty which will set him apart. He was the third New Yorker to attempt and there was no shock when it rattled the back of the net. His lead score set the table for Brosnan two kicks later.
Offaly’s Luke Kelly was another impact sub who may have had more of a contribution were it not for a head injury sustained a couple of weeks ago. He’s been on the scene here for five years after an impressive career for his home county not to mention at UCD alongside Jack McCarrfrey and Paul Mannion.
Tiernan Mathers had a late chance to win it which if anything would have made the romance of the occasion even harder to script. His Tyrone father and Down mother produced one of the most iconic New York-born footballing families, Tiernan growing up with six football brothers playing with Shannon Gaels and St Barnabas and let’s not forget their New York ladies football team sister, Aoife.
The last sub to be introduced is also the longest serving New York player, another Down man Paddy Boyle. For years he was involved in teams that were either hammered or pushed the visitors close and an achilles problem saw him miss out on the majority of this game. But his smile was widest when he was last to leave the pitch to join his team mates in the winning dressing room.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
