BREAKING: NEW YORK BEAT LEITRIM ON PENALTIES FOR HISTORIC FIRST EVER CONNACHT VICTORY

A nightmare for Leitrim and dreamland for New York as New York won their first ever Connacht Senior Championship game when they held their nerve in a dramatic penalty shootout in Gaelic Park, prompting scenes of wild celebrations from the locals and utter devastation from the Green & Gold fans.

In a match that had everything, New York came from behind to force extra-time and then rescue a draw in extra-time before a dramatic penalty shootout saw Paul Keaney, Keith Beirne, Shane Quinn and Evan Sweeney all miss their efforts as Jack Reilly put the home side in front for the first time with the seventh kick of the contest.

After Evan Sweeney saw his effort hit the woodwork and go wide, the second Leitrim kick to hit the frame of the goal, New York born and bred Mikey Brosnan created history by converting New York's fifth kick to secure a semi-final clash with Sligo on Saturday April 22.

A NEW YORK STATE OF MIND

THE LAST POINT

For Leitrim, this is heartbreaking and a huge set-back for a season that promised so much with the prospect of a tilt at a Connacht Final ripped from their grasp in heartbreaking fashion. But when they look back on this contest, it was a failure to take a host of gilt edged goal chances throughout the course of normal time and extra-time that eventually decided this contest.

New York keeper Mick Cunningham was the penalty shootout hero but he made a series of saves from Keith Beirne and Jack Heslin while Eoghan Kerin made a huge save to deny Jack Heslin. Paddy Maguire had an injury time chance but drove wide and those misses kept a battling and fiercely committed New York alive in the game.

It is a result that will reverberate through Leitrim football for some time after the seeming progress of the last two years and while the Green & Gold have the Tailteann Cup to look forward to now, it will take some time to recover from the trauma of this loss.

Keith Beirne had the first shot, unfortunately off target, in the first minute while New York’s first effort at goal saw Adrian Varley drop a shot from the corner into the hands of Nevin O’Donnell.

New York keeper Mick Cunningham saves Paul Keaney's penalty Picture: David Fitzgerald Sportsfile

Paul Keaney opened the scoring from a mark and Keith Beirne quickly doubled the lead inside four minutes from a free. New York almost responded with a score but Nevin O’Donnell made an excellent high catch under his crossbar from Shane Carthy’s shot.

Tom Prior was about to break through on google after six minutes but a New York defender got away with a pretty obvious pull on the Ballinamore man as the chance was lost.

Aughawillan provided the next score with Pearce Dolan finding his clubmate Mark Plunkett and he showed awareness to fist over on the run to put Leitrim 3-0 ahead after seven minutes.

Shane Carthy opened his team’s account from a free after a foul on Gavin O’Brien and Leitrim followed up with a wide when Mark Plunkett claimed a mark from the kickout, hitting long to Tom Prior who found Jack Heslin but the Gortletteragh man was off-target.

Peter Fox got New York’s second after Shane Carthy hit a short free to Gavin O’Brien, catching Leitrim off guard and Fox curled a great effort over the bar.

And the home side drew level when they won the ball back from the kickout and worked it through the centre of the Leitrim defence for Shane Brosnan to fire over from distance. However, a foul on Paul Keaney allowed Keith Beirne to edge Leitrim back in front after 12 minutes.

Leitrim turned over the resulting kickout, Donal Wrynn disrupting the ball to Johnny Glynn and a quick move ended with Beirne curling the shot over the ball.

The visitors should have had a goal when Pearce Dolan raided down the left wing before finding Beirne in front of goal. A quick sidestep suggested the possibility of a goal but New York keeper Michael Cunningham made an excellent save with New York scrambling the ball clear.

Keeper Mick Cunningham is mobbed by delighted New York supporters Picture: David Fitzgerald Sportsfile

New York closed the gap again when Jack Heslin’s poor pass was turned over and they broke with Carthy providing the pass for Mikey Brosnan to fire over from distance.

Leitrim restored the two point gap after a high ball almost created another goal chance for Beirne but he was bundled off the ball by Eoghan Kerin but a foul allowed the Mohill man to fire over from a tight angle after 20 minutes, .

Paul Keaney had a bad wide and Leitrim almost broke through for a goal only for Keith Beirne’s flick to be intercepted by the keeper Mick Cunningham. New York went straight down the field and Daniel O’Sullivan drove the ball over the Leitrim bar to cut the gap back to a point.

Leitrim were threatening a goal with Pearce Dolan releasing Jack Heslin coming in from the right but the Gortletteragh man shot into the side netting in another missed goal opportunity. New York should have levelled the scores but Shane Carthy shot badly wide under no pressure.

Adrian Varley tied the scores from a free after 27 minutes with Pearce Dolan shooting wide two minutes later from a tight angle. With Conor Reynolds struggling with an injury and being replaced by Adam Reynolds, Shane Carthy missed a great chance from a free to put Leitrim in front for the very first time on 31 minutes.

New York did take the lead on 33 minutes when Shane Carthy finished a move that started in their own backline, although with a teammate charging through unmarked in front of him, it could have been a real goal chance for the Exiles.

Leitrim had a let off when it appeared as if Carthy was fouled on his way through the defence in the last minute of normal time in the first half. New York felt they should have had a point when Mark Ellis bombed over a long range point with referee David Coldrick consulting with the linesman and umpires before ruling the score out. Jack Heslin had a bad wide as New York led 0-7 to 0-6 at the halftime break.

Andy Moran brought on Barry McNulty for his Leitrim championship debut and he had the first shot, unfortunately the shot going well wide. Leitrim drew level when Jack Heslin crossed the ball across the New York goal and Mark Plunkett got onto the end of the clearance to score after less than two minutes of the second half.

Shane Quinn reacts after his spot kick bounces off the crossbar and clear Picture: David Fitzgerald Sportsfile

New York went back in front with a fine point from Adrian Varley despite a few misplaced passes with an off the ball clash before the kickout that ended with a yellow card for Leitrim keeper Nevin O’Donnell and New York’s Shane Carthy.

Jack Heslin saw a blistering run through the New York defence unceremoniously ended by a heavy challenge with Keith Beirne firing over the 21 yard free to again tie the scores at eight points apiece. Daniel O’Sullivan had a costly wide for New York after a strong run from Robert Wharton.

Leitrim should have had another goal when Heslin broke through the New York defence only for Eoghan Kerin to make a wonder block to deny him. However, a pull on the Gortletteragh man allowed Keith Beirne to fire over a close range free to put Leitrim back in front.

Shane Quinn dropped a free in on top of the keeper with Donal Wrynn winning a soft enough free, Beirne converting again. Heslin had a chance to put Leitrim three clear but his shot drifted outside on the post after a strong run on 47 minutes. Pearce Dolan went into the referee’s book for a foul on Adrian Varley as a promising Leitrim attack broke down.

Donal Wrynn was also booked by Coldrick before New York made two changes on 52 minutes when former London player Killian Butler replaced Varley and Matthew Queenan replaced former Tipperary captain Bill Maher.

New York got their first score in quite a while when Connell Aherne fired over a superb mark and he repeated the dose on 53 minutes, the ball squirming off Nevin O’Donnell’s hands to land on the top of the net. That score came after Leitrim again opened the New York defence but Paul Keaney missed the chance as he lost the ball under pressure.

Evan Sweeney was sent on for Tom Prior as New York keeper Cunningham missed a long range free that might have put the home side back in front. Jack Heslin then went into the book for a high tackle on Wharton.

Cunningham made amends with a successful 40 yard free with just over ten minutes of normal time as New York went back in front but a massive point from the corner from sub Evan Sweeney had it all square once more a minute later. Barry McNulty did very well to keep a wild crossfield pass in play, winning a free in the process that Keith Beirne saw taken off the line by Johnny Glynn on 63 minutes. 

A costly crossfield free saw New York turn over the ball and Evan Sweeney edged Leitrim back in front with a wonderful Evan Sweeney score from the corner. Sweeney had another ambitious effort but his shot sailed wide on the near side of the posts.

New York tried to work a goal chance but Leitrim’s defence stood firm as New York bayed for a free. New York saw another chance go abegging when Shane Brosnan slipped at just the wrong time on the overlap with just over a minute to go.

Pearce Dolan created a great chance for Leitrim to go two up but a tired kick saw the ball go wide in the final minute. New York drew level when a huge catch from the kickout led to Johnny Glynn bursting through a few tackles to set up sub Jack Reilly for an equalising point after 72 minutes.

Leitrim went back in front when a strong run from Aidan Flynn created space for Keith Beirne and he edged the Green & Gold back in front after 74 minutes. New York, however, weren’t finished and after a brilliantly patient move, Shane Carthy scored a superb effort after 77 minutes to send the game to extra time!

Evan Sweeney again edged Leitrim back in front when Keith Beirne collected a long ball and the Glencar Manorhamilton player shot over. Diarmuid Kelleher also saw yellow.

Leitrim should have put the game to bed when Domhnaill Flynn put Oisin McLoughlin clean through on goal but keeper Mick Cunningham made a wonder save at the expense of a fifty, which dropped short with Johnny Glynn making a huge catch under his crossbar before winning a free out.

A push on the back of a falling Jack Reilly gave New York the chance to draw level and Meath’s Connell Aherne made no mistake with just over a minute left in added time. And just before the halftime break in extra time, Aherne kicked another superb free from distance to put New York 0-15 to 0-14 in front.

GAA President Larry McCarthy congratulates Shane Carthy on New York's historic win Picture: David Fitzgerald Sportsfile

New York briefly threatened a goal but sub Tiernan Matthers ran himself over the goal line after the restart while Eoghan Kerin felt he should have had a free as he bore down on goal but the referee waved on play, Leitrim breaking up the field for Mark Plunkett to set up Keith Beirne for a mark that he converted.

Leitrim had a huge let off when Shane Carthy’s shot hit the post and they went straight down the field where a high ball broke to Paddy Maguire but his shot flew inches wide. Leitrim had the chance to go in front but Barry McNulty launched his mark from the corner well wide of the far post.

New York’s Gavin O’Brien then went into the book before Paul Keaney’s strong run released Mark Plunkett but with his man on the ground, the Aughawillan man dragged his shot wide across the face of the New York goal.

Leitrim looked as if they were going to win but Evan Sweeney’s shot was fielded on the line by Cunningham with New York having the ball in attack as added time ran out but unable to work the scoring chance they so desperately needed.

That meant penalties - first up was New York’s Tiernan Matthers and the New York born and bred sub saw his shot saved by Nevin O’Donnell. Paul Keaney was Leitrim’s first taker and his shot was brilliantly saved by Mick Cunningham. O’Donnell then made a brilliant save, his trailing feet stopping the shot but Cunningham saved Keith Beirne’s kick, albeit with a hint of being well off his line. Niall Madine was the first to find the net, straight down the middle to put the pressure on Leitrim.

Shane Quinn struck his penalty confidently but the ball struck the crossbar and bounced out and clear. Jack Reilly then chipped his shot off the crossbar to leave Evan Sweeney up next, the Manor man seeing his shot clipping the post and going wide. That left New York’s MIkey Brosnan with the kick that sent New York into the Connacht Semi-Final, sparking wild celebrations in Gaelic Park.

LEITRIM

Scorers: Keith Beirne 0-9; Evan Sweeney 0-3; Mark Plunkett 0-2; Paul Keaney 0-1

Team: Nevin O’Donnell, Paddy Maguire, Mark Diffley, Conor Reynolds, Conor Farrell, Shane Quinn, James Rooney, Pearce Dolan, Donal Wrynn, Jack Heslin, Mark Plunkett, Keith Beirne, Aidan Flynn, Paul Keaney, Tom Prior. Subs: Adam Reynolds for C Reynolds (31); Barry McNulty for C Farrell (HT); Evan Sweeney for Prior (56), Domhnaill Flynn for Keaney (60); Oisin McLoughlin for Heslin (64); Diarmuid Kelleher for Rooney (70); Cillian McGloin for A Flynn (ET 3); Paul Keaney for Wrynn (HT ET)

NEW YORK

Scorers: Connell Aherne 0-4; Shane Carthy 0-3; Adrian Varley 0-2; Peter Fox, Shane Brosnan, Daniel O’Sullivan, Mikey Brosnan, Mick Cunningham & Jack Reilly 0-1 each

Team: Michael Cunningham, Jamie Boyle, Alan Campbell, Eoghan Kerin, Bill Maher, Robert Wharton, Shane Brosnan, Johnny Glynn, Gavin O'Brien, Mark Ellis, Adrian Varley, Shane Carthy, Mikey Brosnan, Peter Fox, Daniel O'Sullivan. Subs: Connell Aherne for M Brosnan (HT);  Killian Butler & Matthew Queenan for Varley & Maher (52), Jack Reilly for O’Sullivan (71); Tiernan Matthers for Glynn (ET 10);  Paddy Boule for Wharton (ET 16)

Referee: David Coldrick (Meath)