'I actually got a little book and wrote on it, 'London, All-Ireland 2026 champions'...it's come through'

London Manager Paul Coggins celebrates. Pic: Laszlo Geczo

All-Ireland JFC: London 5-12 USGAA 0-17 

London manager Paul Coggins said their breakthrough All-Ireland JFC title success means all the more because it was achieved with entirely homegrown talent.

After back-to-back one-point final defeats to New York, London made it third time lucky at Croke Park.

Shaun McCready struck 2-2 while Conor Redican, Alfie McNulty and sub Niall McGivney grabbed the other goals on a landmark day.

There was a huge cameo too from captain and midfielder Noel Maher who nailed two crucial two-pointers in the third quarter.

USGAA, comprising players from Philadelphia, Chicago, San Francisco and Boston, got it going for 10 minutes or so during the first half.

But London largely led throughout the hour and were good value for their sixth title at the grade, and their first since 1986.

The competition was reconstituted in 2022 to cater mainly for overseas units and London are the third winners, following Kilkenny and New York.

Roscommon man Coggins was in charge of the London seniors back in 2013 when they famously reached the Connacht final and contested a qualifier tie at Croke Park.

He said that was special but described this win as unique, given that all the players were born and bred in London.

"We had an unbelievable time with the London seniors but that was a different era, with a different bunch of lads," said Coggins.

"They were fantastic players but this bunch is all London born, all homegrown. It's been a real battle over the last two years since we took over and it really means a lot because of them being homegrown and them being the first London team to win the competition as it is now.

"We went back working Last November. We put in a massive effort. The players themselves made a decision that this was going to be their year.

"I actually got a little book and wrote on it, 'London, All-Ireland 2026 champions'. That was last October - and it's come through!"

London put 1-4 on the board before USGAA had even got off the mark. Redican, from the Tara club, sniped 1-1 of that tally, fisting a point before being played in for an 11th minute goal by Eoin McGivney.

But as the London kick-out malfunctioned - they lost five in a row at one stage - USGAA were provided with a platform to haul themselves right back into the contest.

They responded with seven points in a row, three from wing-back Ronan Orford, to tie the game up by the 21st minute, 1-4 to 0-7.

Crucially, USGAA never actually took the lead and when McCready scored his first goal, just seconds before half time, lobbing the goalkeeper with what appeared a point attempt, London led 2-5 to 0-8.

London skipper Maher, fresh from raising an orange flag in Friday evening's semi-final win over New York, boomed over two huge two-pointers in the third quarter.

Brian Kennedy's USGAA sparked again with three points in a row, from Declan Kelly, Michael Moylan and sub Michael Kerr.

And later on they scored four points in a row, but the damage had been done at that stage, McCready's second goal, and London's third, coming in the 47th minute.

Niall McGivney made it goal number four for London in the 59th minute and McNulty was fed by McCready for the fifth shortly after.

London scorers: S McCready (2-2); C Redican (1-2, 1 free); A McNulty (1-1); N Maher (0-4, 2 tpf); N McGivney (1-0); S Gaynor, T Gallagher, C Doyle (1 free) (0-1 each).

USGAA scorers: E Gormley (0-5, 1 free); M Moylan (0-4, 3 frees); R Orford (0-3); D Murtagh (1 free), M Kerr (2 frees) (0-2 each); D Kelly (0-1).

London: C Doyle; J Lavelle, J Power, R McCready; E McGivney, C Redican, D Byrne; C Redmond, N Maher; T Gallagher, L Morahan, M Joyce; S Gaynor, S McCready, A McNulty.

Subs: J Murphy for Byrne (26); M Tierney for Gallagher (h/t); S Hickey for Gaynor (43); C Morris for Redmond (48); N McGivney for Joyce (57).

USGAA: B Bowler; S Gavin, O Sheehan, C Coyle; O Ward, J Lynch, R Orford; E Morrissey, M Dunphy; C Sheehan, B McDaid, D Murtagh; D Kelly, E Gormley, M Moylan.

Subs: M Murphy for Sheehan (21); M Kerr for Dunphy (41), R Lenke for Moylan (45); T Kelly for Ward (48); S Ward for Kelly (53).

Ref: K Eannetta (Tyrone).