Offaly players on New York panel for historic win

Luke Kelly, front right, and Conor Lynam, back right, with the New York panel on Saturday.

placeholder image — Luke Kelly, front right, and Conor Lynam, back right, with the New York panel on Saturday.

TWO Offaly players were on the New York panel that had a historic win over Leitrim in the Connacht Senior Football Championship on Saturday last.

There were wild scenes of celebrations in the Bronx's Gaelic Park as New York shocked Leitrim with a penalty shootout win after the sides had tied at 0-15 each at the end of extra time.

Clara man Luke Kelly came on as a sub in the first period of extra time while Erin Rovers club man, Conor Lynam was an unused sub.

A large number of Offaly people were among the big crowd in Gaelic Park and they certainly enjoyed New York's great win. It has been coming for some time as they have went close in the past and New York now have to travel to Sligo for their semi-final clash on April 22-23.

Both Kelly and Lynam have played minor and U-21 football for Offaly while Kelly has been on the senior football panel for sporadic spells – he has spent a considerable amount of his young adulthood in the USA and has played for New York before.

Kelly is a strong running, physical player while Lynam was an exciting forward talent at minor level and is a big loss to his Pullough based club.