Hurlers come up short against star-studded New York

Lory Meagher Cup final

New York 4-16

Cavan 2-17

Paul Fitzpatrick at Croke Park

Despite a tremendous late rally, Cavan came up short in the final of the Lory Meagher Cup against New York in the final of the Lory Meagher Cup this afternoon at HQ.

Cavan competed well in the first half but the concession of three goals was never part of the plan and led to the Exiles going in holding a seven-point lead, 3-11 to 0-13.

In changeable weather conditions – the first half was played in radiant sunshine before a deluge erupted at half-time – Cavan started full of running and generally kept a star-studded New York side honest but the goals were a real killer and Cavan will be disappointed with at least two of them.

However, New York, while clearly a very skilful and well-conditioned group, were not overly convincing on the day either and registered seven first-half wides to Cavan’s three, while also displaying crisp ball-striking and game nous at times. All-Ireland senior medallist Johnny Glynn started at full-forward and dominated the aerial battle in the first quarter but the supply slowed down as Cavan began to get on top at times.

The underdogs held the Galacticos scoreless for eight minutes approaching half-time, not an easy feat, but New York broke that deadlock with their third major and that gave them a very useful foothold at the short whistle.

New York hit the front from the throw-in when Glynn fielded and David Mangan pointed but Cavan weren’t rattled and would hit the front themselves on the eight-minute mark.

Liam O’Brien (free) and Tom O’Meara traded points before Canice Maher and Jack McGuinness landed high-quality scores to nudge Cavan in front.

O’Meara levelled it but Cavan led again when Cillian Sheanon split the posts – but the first goal put daylight between them for the first time, Mangan, Glynn and Dara Walsh combining and Tomás O’Connor finishing low.

A lovely strike by Managan and a trademark catch and finish from Glynn made it 1-5 to 0-4 but the exchanges were still fairly close at this stage.

O’Brien nailed a difficult free before O’Meara raised his third white flag of the half. Cavan weren’t going away, though – McAllister caught the resulting puck-out and, seconds later, Nicky Kenny flung one over to make it a two-point game again.

While Mangan won the puck-out and fired over, Cavan, now up to the pace of the game, were going well in this period. O’Brien (free) and Adam Loughlin Stones traded points and Cillian Sheanon added another but the second goal again broke Cavan’s momentum, AJ Willis eventually kicking it in after a scramble.

Cavan’s response to the setback was impressive. Sean Keating gathered a loose ball and drilled over and although Dara Walsh scored, Cavan would dominate the following eight minutes.

Liam O’Brien landed a huge point from play and added a free after Jack Barry was fouled and when Jack McGuinness added another, it was back to two.

But again, New York found another gear with Mangan adding a free and, after an overlap, Walsh finding the net.

Mangan had the final say of the first half as New York went in leading by 3-11 to 0-13 and when Glynn was fouled and Mangan buried the resulting penalty on the restart, that seemed to be that.

But Cavan didn’t drop their heads and despite finding themselves 11 points down at one stage (4-14 to 0-15) they dug deep and were the better side in the final 25 minutes.

O’Brien went for goal with a 30-metre free and the rebound fell to Kenny, who smashed to the net. The goal gave Cavan confidence and although New York landed two quick points, a penalty for a body check on Keating was superbly finished by O’Brien and suddenly Cavan were back in it.

A Dillon Mulligan point brought the Blues closer and they poured forward in the closing stages, with the New York full-back line forced into some last-ditch defending, which they managed in impressive fashion.

Sub Rian Delaney had the final say to reduce the margin to five but time was against Cavan and New York closed it out.

The decision to parachute a star-studded New York team, stacked with very high-calibre players drawn from a much deeper pool than that available to any other side in the Lory Meagher Cup, in at the semi-final stage has proven highly controversial; given the relative talent on both sides, Cavan certainly out-performed expectations and should be proud of their efforts.

In the first half, they may have given New York, whose team were loaded with former senior and underage inter-county players from tier one counties, too much respect. There was no denying the favourites’ talent and they clearly put in a commendable effort in the face of logistical difficulties.

However, as the tone of the national media coverage of late indicates, the squad was far too strong for this competition and their inclusion was unfair on the opposition from the outset, which leaves an unsatisfactory feeling around the conclusion of the competition.

It is no reflection on the New York players and management who deserve huge credit for promoting the game overseas but the truth is that Cavan playing so well and losing by just five points - even former GAA President Larry McCarthy tweeted that the final score was "much tighter than predicted" - will probably spare the authorities potential embarrassment, if they were observing closely at all.

Should Cavan regroup, they will be favourites to get over the line next year; New York, meanwhile, who were 1/100 for their semi-final and 1/8 for this final, will enter the Nickey Rackard Cup again as red-hot favourites at the semi-final stage in 2026.

Cavan: Conor Gallagher, Shane Briody, Enda Shalvey, Stephen Sheridan, Dillon Mulligan, Cillian Sheanon, Matthew Hynes, Canice Maher, Jack McGuinness, Liam O’Brien, Éamon Óg McAllister, Colum Sheanon, Nicholas Kenny, Sean Keating, Jack Barry

Subs: Tomás Leonard for J McGuinness (45), Diarmaid Carney for M Hynes (52), Mark Moffett for J Barry (60), Daniel Martin for S Briody, Rian Delaney for D Mulligan (both 66)

New York: Daniel Mottram, Éanna Barry, Henry Keyes, James Cronin Rodger, Darren O’Donohue, Daragh Moran, Sean O’Leary-Hayes, Tom O’Meara, Adam Loughlin-Stones, Jonathan Glynn, David Mangan, AJ Willis, Tomás O’Connor, Conor Hammersley, Dara Walsh

Subs: James Bermingham for D Moran (27), Gerard McPartland for T O’Meara (52), Brian McPartland for Éanna Barry (57), Darragh Hynes for D Walsh (60)

Ref: Kevin Parke (Antrim)