February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
New York vs. Down
All-Ireland
Ulster Championship
First Round
3 p.m.
Gaelic ParkBy Pierce O’Reilly
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New York’s hurlers will be easy to motivate on Sunday afternoon next when they face Down in the first-ever championship match to be placed at Gaelic Park. Less than a month ago, New York trained for two hours on a pitch that was covered with snow. "Third World training conditions" is how manager Kieran O’Sullivan later described it.
A month later, the county team is battling for space on a rock solid surface at Van Cortlandt Park.
"People don’t realize what these lads have been through," O’Sullivan said. "The sweat, the pain and the dogged training regimen takes its toll on players and they deserve credit for what they’ve put in. Hopefully, the reward will arrive on Sunday."
O’Sullivan speaks with a confidence that is unique to New York GAA circles.
"We’ve taken a lot of criticism over the last few years for this and that," he said. "Well, on Sunday we’ll try to put a few wrongs right for once and for all."
The Limerick native has left no stone unturned in preparation for the first historic hurling clash ever to take place at Gaelic Park. "We just can’t wait now to get out on the field and get going. The homework is done and it’s time now to perform," he said.
Down, who arrive in town later this afternoon, are raging favorites to win, even if they had to travel 3,000 miles for the game. Last year, when the two sides met at Casement Park in Antrim, the Mourne men had 10 points to spare. That game finished 3-14 to 1-10. Down full forward Paul Braniff hit six exquisite points from play, Noel Sands hit 1-1, while Brendan Braniff hit 0-4. Derry, however, surprisingly defeated the Mourne men two weeks later in the Ulster Hurling semifinal. Since then Down have stuttered to a mid-table position in Div. 2 of the National Hurling League, while New York have returned to the drawing board.
Two weeks ago, the Down hurlers failed to make the National Hurling League playoffs when Westmeath came from behind to pip them at the winning post. Still, their overall work rate and regularity at playing together may cause serious problems for an inexperienced and new-look Big Apple outfit. They are also renowned for their early start, as was evident in last year’s clash, when they hit 2-10 to 0-2 in the opening half.
"We’re well aware of their strong points," O’Sullivan said. "To be honest, we’re not worried. If we play our own game, to our strength, then we’ll have no problems."
Last Monday night, the New York hurlers pucked about for one of the final training sessions with a clear new focus and determination. The battle was then only six days away and the troops were waiting eagerly for the 15 frontrunners to be named. New York hurling Captain John Madden, who was sure of his place, clapped one of his teammates on the back as he wandered to the wing to speak to a newspaper reporter. Sweat poured down the Lorrha man’s back as he stood still for the team photo.
This was nothing new to the Tipperary star, who has more silverware than most on his mantelpiece. Yet, every new championship season brings its own freshness and Madden looked a little tense.
"Just can’t wait now to get going, we’ve being waiting a while to get revenge," he muttered before moving away to the right to latch onto a skipping ball. A minute later he rattled over a 40-yard point from the right wing — things were once again back to normal, Madden was doing what he does best. New York supporters are hoping he’ll do the same on Sunday.
Fitzgibbon pulls out
New York manager Kieran O’Sullivan and his selectors were dealt a severe blow over the weekend when Cork U-21 star Tom Fitzgibbon returned to the Rebel County. Fitzbibbon was earmarked for a place in the New York attack for Sunday but decided to return to Ireland at the last minute instead.
"It was a bit of a blow alright, but the panel is very strong this year and with three or four other lads hopping at the opportunity to get his place, we’ve had no problem replacing him," O’Sullivan said.
The Cork Football Club is also disappointed this week that Fitzgibbon returned to Ireland. He was instrumental in their victory over Roscommon on opening day at Gaelic Park.