New York boss McGeeney has sympathy for Leitrim counterpart after shock loss

The difficulty of travelling to Gaelic Park to take on New York should not be underestimated according to the Exiles manager Johnny McGeeney as his team celebrated their historic first ever victory in the Connacht Senior Championship.

Speaking to RTE, McGeeney (inset)  said “I spoke back to someone on Twitter who said it was Leitrim's worst performance ever, but you have to understand they travelled 3,000 miles, they’re coming to our backyard, they’re playing at 11 o’clock at night. You have to respect that you can’t just turn around and tell them it’s their worst performance ever. It’s going to be the same for us going back to Ireland in two weeks.”

Taking advantage of that was key to New York's gameplan as several Leitrim players fell victim to cramp: “Everything went against them. Flying over for a Saturday evening game. They lost one or two players coming over as well so they were against the eight ball in that respect. 

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

NEW YORK 0-15 LEITRIM 0-15 (AET) - NEW YORK WIN 2-0 ON PENALTIES

“We had the work done for it if it did go to extra time. Run at them, run at them, run at them, it’s simple. Don’t stop. That was the motto from the start, Don’t stop.”

New York's manager  revealed that midfielder Johnny Glynn had  predicted a win on penalties back in January, even if McGeeney couldn't watch the drama unfold!

"I know the TV didn’t catch it but I was sitting on the waterbox, I didn’t watch the penalties I was just going by the reaction of the crowd. When I knew 'Brosy’  was stepping up last I knew he was going to score because he actually didn’t care if he scored or not.

I did lad but on paper New York had more championship appearances & medals than Leitrim. I don’t see how it’s an embarrassment when the team have to play 3000 miles away at 11pm there time in our back yard.

— johnny mac (@johnnymcgeeney) April 9, 2023

"I know that doesn’t make sense, but he’s never won before, he’s never known any different. He grew up playing in New York since he was no age, I just knew when he was stepping up it was going to happen. Mikey didn’t want to take a penalty and I made him. It had to be done.”

McGeeney also highlighted the contribution of Glynn and Kerry duo Gavin O'Brien and Robert Wharton: “Johnny Glynn’s mentality is something I’ve never come across before. He’s a monster, he’s a complete monster. 

“Maybe it’s his downfall because he hurt himself. But I’m delighted for him because he put so much into this. He doesn’t stop. Gavin O’Brien was super, Rob Wharton was super. Shane Brosnan kept us in it in the first half.”

As for a semi-final with Sligo, McGeeney said New York would have no problem flying home for the match on Saturday April 22: “We’ll be back at it Tuesday, there’s no other way about it.  My only concern is injuries, out of the 43 lads that we kept on, 40 of them were able to go home for the Offaly game last year so we have no problem that way.”

McGeeney also spoke to Irish American podcast The Long Hall Podcast after the game:

.@M_Dorgan spoke to @NewYorkGAA manager @johnnymcgeeney after his side's historic win over #Leitrim Saturday!! ️ #gaa #newyorkgaa #newyork #theexiles #johnnymcgeeneyhttps://t.co/Re38UDXnZ7

— The Long Hall Podcast and Website (@thelonghallpod) April 11, 2023