One victory created history for New York, but another win this Saturday against Sligo would be seismic.
Not only would it seal their place in the Connacht SFC final against either Roscommon or Galway, but it would put them into the top 16 bracket of the All-Ireland Championship.
The lopsided draw for this year’s Connacht Championship guaranteed a place in the Sam Maguire round-robin for one of the so-called weaker counties.
Read more: GAA confirm venues for U20 final and Ulster SFC semi-finals as eligibility row rumbles on
Not many expected New York to be in the reckoning, but all bets are off following their shock win over Leitrim in the Bronx earlier this month.
Johnny McGeeney admits the days after the game have been frantic as they continue to make preparations for their trip to Sligo.
The Culloville man will bring his team from the east coast of America to the west coast of Ireland to take on a Sligo team managed by a man who was raised two miles up the road in Crossmaglen - fellow South Armagh native Tony McEntee.
The sides met in the 2022 Connacht Championship with the Yeatsmen claiming a hard-fought 1-16 to 0-15 win in Gaelic Park and McGeeney concedes his team may have lost the element of surprise.
“It’s silly to talk about New York in the last 16 for Sam Maguire it really is - but that’s the reality of the next game for ourselves or Sligo,” said McGeeney.
“I think Sligo had their surprise last year, they won’t be caught on the hop.
“Tony (McEntee) will have his lads fired up. It’s in their home park now. It’s a massive task for us, but we have surpassed anything we have ever done so we will go out with no fear and, hopefully, the lads will leave all on the pitch and have no regrets come the final whistle.
He added: “For Tony McEntee to get Sligo to a Connacht final would be massive for them so there is that bit of pressure.
“Whatever happens, we are in bonus territory.”
McGeeney says his side’s dramatic win over Leitrim hasn’t changed his views on penalties being used to decide Championship games.
Goalkeeper Michael Cunningham made two saves for New York in the shootout with fellow Down native Niall Madine scored a penalty while Mickey Brosnan nailed the winning kick for the hosts.
As a manager, he has been on the winning side of a shootout, but he has also watched his home county lose to Galway at the quarter-final stages of last year’s Championship.
“Listen, my thoughts on penalties hasn’t changed,” stated McGeeney.
“Watching Armagh get knocked out by Galway was a sickening way to go out last year but it’s the same for both teams and, with the game being in New York, a replay is never an option.
“If I’m being honest the new format wouldn’t suit our group of lads at all.
"We are all out here because of work and I don’t think some lads would be able to tell their boss every other week ‘I need a few days’.
“I have a list of the length of my arm of boys not fit to train, but they’ll be on that flight and we’ll be ready to go.”
READ NEXT:
- Aidan O'Rourke insists Donegal won't fear any Ulster side ahead of Down duel
Five recent Ulster SFC classics as Tyrone and Monaghan serve up a game for the ages
- Derry star Shane McGuigan lauds attacking quality but rues defensive lapses against Fermanagh
Tyrone vs Monaghan: Player ratings from Sunday's Ulster SFC quarter-final
Sign up to our free sports newsletter to get the latest headlines to your inbox.
