BEEN THERE ..DONE THAT
Ex-star Quinn knows what Leitrim will face in Big Apple
SEAMUS Quinn knows exactly what the Leitrim players are walking into on Sunday, because he was there himself once.
Now a county selector, Quinn was a standout player for the Connacht minnows in the 90s and Noughties before calling it quits in 2008 after 16 years of senior service.
Of course there was that famous 1994 provincial title triumph - the first and last Leitrim got to celebrate - that he was a part of in only his third year involved.
“I thought I was going to have a good few of them at 20 years of age,” Quinn smiled.
“You have to take it when you get it. It doesn’t come around that often.”
But a memory sticks out from nine years later, too, from when Leitrim pitched up in the Bronx at Gaelic Park against a New York side that, after four years of playing in the Connacht Championship, sensed a real opportunity.
Just like this weekend, in fact. “Leitrim will always have that,” admitted Quinn, who is one of only two Leitrim All-stars.
“They’re looking at Leitrim as one of the weakest counties in Connacht.
“You’d be trying to instil that into the players. Of course, it’s not an easy place to go to.
“They’ll be saying this is their chance. There’s a lot of talk. They have Jamie Clarke and Kevin O’grady from Wexford, a couple of lads from Roscommon, Donal Ward and Neil Collins.
“Then, of course, Tom Cunniffe (Mayo) is with them as well so they have county players with lots of experience.
“We’re well aware of what we’re facing into. It’s just we don’t know a whole lot about New York because the only competitive game they had was against Corofin.
“It’s hard to know what they’re really like because there is no footage of them.”
Back then, the game went to extra-time. Quinn remembers it as a very physical encounter.
“One of the most physical games I ever played in because they just want to get a win, get a scalp of some Connacht team,” he said.
Gaelic Park celebrates 90 years in use this year and, 15 years ago, there was still a baseball corner on the side of the pitch.
“To be honest we were lucky to get it there. We won by three or four points in extra-time. All I remember is getting a red card. It was a second yellow.
“I even went out and played with Leitrim
GAA club in New York and that’s the way it was. It was very physical.
“It probably has changed a bit in recent years.” Leitrim endured a poor start to their league campaign in Division 4 but were building momentum before the weather turned and their final fixtures against Waterford and London were not fulfilled. “I don’t know was it the fact that it was a Division Four competition but we were thinking, if it was a Division One game it would have been played,” added Quinn.
We’re training away but there is nothing like playing games. Games are what players need.”