Lory Meagher Cup Final: Historic win for New York

Lory Meagher Cup final

New York 4-17 Cavan 2-17

By Paul Keane at Croke Park

Eight years after winning the All-Ireland SHC with Galway, New York captain Jonathan Glynn returned to Croke Park and roared 'New York abú' after lifting the Lory Meagher Cup.

Richie Hartnett's Exiles used goals as their battering ram to a historic win having only returned to Championship hurling last weekend after a 19-year absence.

Leading scorer David Mangan, who finished with 1-7, Dara Walsh, AJ Willis and Tomas O'Connor all grabbed goals to propel New York to the landmark win.

New York beat Monaghan at the semi-final stage last weekend, having flown into Ireland the previous Thursday.

The squad stayed in Mullingar for a spell, where the Monaghan game was played, before relocating to Dublin and they capped a terrific 10 days or so with silverware success.

Towering forward Glynn scored two points, the same as he did against Monaghan, and has fully embraced life in the US having previously played for the New York footballers. He is also an official with New York GAA.

The goals were the difference on the day and left Cavan with a mountain to climb after falling 11 points down early in the second-half.

The Breffni took consolation from a strong finish with two final quarter goals themselves to push New York all the way.

It was Cavan's first final at the grade since losing to Fermanagh in the 2021 decider.

They returned to Croke Park with 11 starters from that final four years ago in their matchday squad.

But while they were desperate to redeem themselves, and impressively qualified for the final with a group game to spare, they ran into a high quality New York side.

Richie Hartnett's Exiles led by 3-11 to 0-13 at half-time having opened up with some terrific hurling at times.

Glynn was the big draw and while he wore number 10, the big attacker started at full-forward, pinching a 14th minute point.

But it was a huge team performance overall with Adam Loughlin Stones and Galway native Mangan combining time after time.

They struck eight first-half points between them while O'Connor, Willis and Walsh swooped for the goals.

Portroe man Willis struck 1-8 against Monaghan and maintained his good form though Walsh's goal before half-time was the pick of the bunch with Loughlin Stones assisting.

Cavan had their moments and struck neat points from Kilkenny men Canice Maher and Nicky Kenny. Free-taker Liam O'Brien fired over five first-half points.

But they were overwhelmed by the scoring power of New York who continued to go for goals after the restart.

Mangan hit the net from a penalty and while Conor Hammersley and Walsh were denied by goalkeeper saves, Mangan knocked over the resulting two 65s.

With 20 minutes to go, New York led 4-14 to 0-15 and weren't flattered.

Cavan refused to relent and clawed back two final quarter goals to add some late intrigue.

Kenny flicked home the first after a deflected O'Brien free fell kindly and O'Brien scored the second himself from a penalty after a foul on Keating.

Cavan pushed hard for further goals and Glynn dropped out to midfield to help New York grab a foothold as Cavan rallied.

Ollie Bellew's side reduced the gap to five points but that was as good as it got for them as New York held on.

Scorers for New York: David Mangan 1-7 (1-0 pen, 1f, 2 65), Dara Walsh 1-1, AJ Willis 1-1, Tomas O'Connor 1-0, Adam Loughlin Stones 0-3, Jonathan Glynn 0-2, Tom O'Meara 0-1, Aidan Organ 0-1, Conor Hammersley 0-1.

Scorers for Cavan: Liam O'Brien 1-7 (1-0 pen, 6fs), Nicky Kenny 1-1, Cillian Sheanon 0-2, Jack McGuinness 0-2, Sean Keating 0-1, Canice Maher 0-1, Eamon Og McAllister 0-1, Dillon Mulligan 0-1, Rian Delaney 0-1.

​New York: Daniel Mottram; Eanna Barry, Henry Keyes, James Cronin Rodger; Darren O'Donohue, Daragh Moran, Sean O'Leary Hayes; Tom O'Meara, Adam Loughlin Stones; Conor Hammersley, David Mangan, AJ Willis; Tomas O'Connor, Jonathan Glynn, Dara Walsh.

Subs: James Bermingham for Moran 27, Gerard McPartland for O'Meara 52, Aidan Organ for O'Connor 55, Brian McPartland for Barry 57, Darragh Hynes for Walsh 71.

Cavan: Conor Gallagher; Shane Briody, Enda Shalvey, Stephen Sheridan; Dillon Mulligan, Cillian Sheanon, Matthew Hynes; Canice Maher, Jack McGuinness; Liam O'Brien, Eamon Og McAllister, Colm Sheanon; Nicky Kenny, Sean Keating, Jack Barry.

Subs: Tomas Leonard for McGuinness 45, Diarmaid Carney for Hynes 51, Mark Moffett for Barry 60, Daniel Martin for Briody 66, Rian Delaney for Mulligan 66.

Referee: Kevin Parke (Antrim).