By Pierce O’Reilly
Down 1-16, New York 2-12
"Complete robbery" is how one New York supporter summed up his feelings at the sound of Pat O’Connor’s final whistle at Gaelic Park on Sunday after the first-ever championship clash had taken place at the hallowed Bronx grounds.
"We were robbed and it’s that simple," the Bronx native muttered with complete vexation. He was outraged with O’Connor’s injury-time decision in favor of the Mourne men that proved pivotal to the outcome. Down substitute Johnny McGrattan was fouled with five minutes of injury time played and the Ballygalget native riffled over the resultant free. Game over.
This game was a brilliant showcase of the exiles’ game. Both teams hurled with their hearts on their sleeves and the throng of home supporters were glued to proceedings from the off. New York’s governor, George Pataki, started the proceeding earlier in the hour and even stayed to the interval, confessing on his way out of the grounds that he loved the atmosphere and the close encounters. When he departed, the visitors were leading by one point 0-10 to 1-06, with wing-back Martin Coulter, stalwart Noel Sands and center back Gary Savage all hitting great first half points for Down.
New York stuttered a little at the off. Phil Wickham and Tomas Keane came under severe pressure from Martin Coulter Jr. and Liam Clarke. Their darting and decisive runs stretched the home defense and Sands was always on hand to punish any errors. When the home side did settle, they hurled with panache and passion. The half back line was very impressive in this period, with John Madden, Owen Cummins and Brian Green pushing the Down half forward line way out to the wings. Up front, Bonnie Kennedy, Vinnie Norton and Westmeath native Brian McCabe had registered early scores and the ship was at last afloat. Then in the 25th minute, Tipperary native Tom Moylan broke through the Down defense for a dramatic goal to leave the minimum between the sides at the changeover. The New York supporters went wild as they sensed a home victory.
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At this juncture last year, the Mourne men had 14 points of a cushion; on Sunday they had one. Inside 10 minutes of the restart, New York had a two-point advantage. Tom Moylan with an excellent point from play and a mysterious goal from wing back John Madden gave the Big Apple contingent further momentum. Madden hit a deceiving sideline cut into the Down square and somehow it ended up in the back of the net. Goalie Graham Clarke lost sight of the sliotar in the sun and when he regained his composure the net was bulging. The visitors for once were reeling, while New York oozed with confidence.
Down Manager Jimmy O’Reilly arose from the dugout and with his arrival his troops responded. Sands was again the leader, hitting two great frees to ease the pressure, and then the killer punch came from wiry corner forward Martin Coulter Jr., who collected the sliotar along the right wing near the subway lines and drove through the New York defense with unusual ease. From 20 yards out he let fly with a pile driver that almost busted the New York net. It was a wonderful goal, one fitting for the occasion. Down had got out of jail and their probation period was going well.
The final 10 minutes were hectic, with both sets of supporters on tenterhooks. New York took the lead with Moylan again hitting a massive point from 50 yards out, only to see Sands and Coutler Jr. respond. With the game entering injury time, Sands put the visitors in front with a great point from play from the left wing. The deal was done — or so it seemed. The real drama had yet to unfold. Bonnie Kennedy still had time to level matters once again, this time with a 14-yard free, and the supporters in the huge crowd were happy that extra time would be used to separate the sides.
Limerick referee Pat O’Connor was not in the mood for extra time, however, and a further two minutes of injury time favored the Mourne men, who were awarded a controversial free and five minutes of extra time played. Substitute Johnny McGrattan drove the free between the posts and New York had been gunned down in the most bitter of circumstances.
New York: Finbar Flood, Tomas Keane, Peter Dalton, Phil Wickham, John Madden 1-0, Owen Cummins, Brian Green, Mark Comerford, Tommy Simms, Fintan O’Shea, Brian McCabe 0-1, Vinnie Norton 0-1, Kevin Kennedy, Tom Moylan 1-2, Bonnie Kennedy 0-7. Subs: Dave Simms 0-1 for Norton, Sean Nolan for Comerford, John Nolan for Keane, Tadgh O’Callaghan for O’Shea.
Down: Graham Clarke, Mick Braniff, Steven Murray, Jerome Trainor, Martin Coulter Sr. 0-3, Gary Savage 0-1, Gabriel Clarke, Paddy Monan, Gerard Adair, Gary Gordon, Barry Coulter, Noel Sands 0-9, Martin Coulter Jr. 1-4, Gerard McGrattan, Liam Clarke. Subs: Donal Byers for McGrattan, Johnny McGrattan 0-1 for Coulter, Terry Masterson for Clarke.