NO STING IN THE BRONX TAIL

Sligo given scare but New York ultimately fall short in quest for their first ever win

SLIGO survived a brief but real scare in the Bronx on Sunday night before their experience and class told late on to see off a spirited New York.

A historic upset had been heavily speculated before this Connacht Championship opener and when New York took the lead with 19 minutes to go, Gaelic Park began to believe. However, in Sligo’s hour of need, Niall Carew’s veterans stepped up to wrest control from the Exiles, Kyle Cawley’s goal a dagger in New York’s side. The first six minutes saw as many scores shared between the sides as fans were treated to a scintillating opening to the 2017 Championship. Sligo’s Neil Ewing got the show on the road within 30 seconds with a smart point but Daniel Mckenna responded immediately. Mark Breheny and Eugene Mcverry then shared frees as the game ebbed and flowed. The experience of Breheny — beginning his 18th Championship season here — was going to be key. While Keelan Cawley chose to forego the game’s first goal chance for another point soon after, by the time the contest finally began to settle on 20 minutes, Sligo were 0-9 to 0-4 ahead, Paddy O’connor, Stephen Coen, John Kelly and Adrian Marren getting on the scoresheet, with Mcverry’s frees keeping New York in touch. Sligo could have been further clear but for Vinny Cadden, their county man keeping guard between the hosts’ posts and brilliantly tipping a clever Breheny effort on to the post and away. It was a moment that gave the underdogs a visible boost and as the heavens finally opened and the ball began to skip across the synthetic surface, the flow of the contest was willed back New York’s way. With Mcverry and Conor Mcgraynor’s accuracy from dead balls paying off, the margin was cut to just two points at the break. Having trailed Roscommon by double that margin last year only to come within inches of history, both sides knew this was far from over. On 45 minutes a goal arrived to light up the Big Apple. Keith Quinn floated in a deep free, substitute Shane O’connor soared to knock it down to Mcverry who powered home. Six minutes later, New York had their first lead with a booming Wherity score. Gaelic Park was alive and Sligo needed to stem the tide. Impressively their veterans did so, a Marren brace and Kelly putting them back in front. Then came Cawley’s decisive goal. Wing back Eoin Mchugh — superb throughout — burst through the New York defence to feed Cawley, who ended the game as a contest. Carew may only have two weeks to get to grips with the prospect of Mayo in Castlebar but escaping ignominy in the Bronx will do for now.