The New York created history on Saturday night in the Bronx, as they sealed their first ever win in the Connacht Championship.
The Exiles have been competing in the western province since 1999, and ran teams close at Gaelic Park over those years. Perhaps the closest they came was in 2018, when Leitrim needed extra-time to prevail.
However, Johnny McGeeney’s side finally came good on Saturday, shocking Leitrim in the Connacht SFC quarter-final.
Andy Moran’s charges looked like they had done enough, leading 0-13 to 0-12 deep into injury-time. But former Dublin footballer Shane Carthy kicked a dramatic leveller in the 78th minute to force extra-time.
Extra-time failed to produce a winner, with the teams locked at 0-15 apiece, so penalties were needed.
Leitrim failed to convert any of their attempts, and US native Mikey Brosnan converted the winner.
You can watch the winning penalty and the joyous celebrations in the video below.
The 2023 Championship is one day old, but it will be hard to beat this match for raw excitment and incredible full-time scenes!
After a promising Allianz Football League campaign, Leitrim will now have to lick their wounds as they head for the Tailteann Cup. New York meanwhile can look forward to a Connacht semi-final.
The men from the Big Apple will face Sligo in the last four, after the recently-crowned Division 4 champions overcame London in Ruislip on Saturday, in a comfortable 2-20 to 0-12 victory.
On the other side of the draw, Galway await the winners of Sunday’s quarter-final between Division 1 champions Mayo and Roscommon at MacHale Park, Castlebar.
If Saturday night is anything to go by, the remainder of the summer has much to live up to.
