NEW YORK GAA created history on Saturday as they recorded their first ever win in the Connacht Championship with a penalty shootout victory over Leitrim at Gaelic Park in the Bronx.
The Exiles have been without a win since joining the Connacht SFC in 1999 but they now progress to a semi-final meeting with Sligo at Markievicz Park on April 22.
New York GAA’s Daniel O'Sullivan, left, and Eoghan Kerin celebrate with supporters after the historic win (Image: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile via Getty Images)Leitrim and New York finished 0-15 apiece after extra time, before former Down player Niall Madine and US native Mike Brosnan scored for the Exiles in the shootout to seal the win.
New York's former Down goalkeeper Mick Cunningham twice denied Keith Beirne a goal in the opening half.
New York’s Michael Cunningham saves a penalty from Paul Keaney of Leitrim during the shootout (Image: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile via Getty Images)Following his second save on 25 minutes, with the Exiles trailing 0-4 to 0-6, Dan Sullivan, Adrian and Shane Carthy pointed to give the home side a one-point advantage at the break.
Beirne hit three points after the restart to help the visitors into a 0-10 to 0-8 lead but that was as wide as the gap would get with the remainder of the contest largely nip-and-tuck.
The win at Gaelic Park is New York’s first in the Connacht SFC since joining the competition in 1999 (Image: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile via Getty Images)A brace of points from Connell Ahearne drew New York level before Cunningham gave them a 0-11 to 0-10 lead.
Leitrim twice regained the advantage, first through a brace from Evan Sweeney to make it 0-12 to 0-11, before Beirne replied to Carthy's equaliser deep in injury time to make it 0-13 to 0-12 to the visitors.
New York’s Shane Carthy celebrates with GAA President Larry McCarthy after the historic win (Image: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile via Getty Images)However, a Carthy point in the eighth minute of injury time sent the game to added time.
After the restart, Leitrim took the lead through Sweeney before two Ahearne frees gave the hosts the advantage at the break.
New York manager Johnny McGeeney in the changing room after the win (Image: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile via Getty Images)Byrne's free then sent the game to penalties, where both sides saw their opening two spot kicks saved.
Madine opened the scoring in the shootout before Shane Quinn struck the crossbar for Leitrim, with New York's Jack Reilly and Sweeney also denied by the woodwork, before Brosnan's winner sparked wild celebrations in the Bronx.
New York supporters celebrate after the win at Gaelic Park (Image: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile via Getty Images)