Five years later and Michael Meehan doesn’t know whether to laugh or cry at the memory of Galway’s last trip to New York. So he laughs, although it was very nearly the fairytale ending for New York, and the worst nightmare for Galway.
As it turned out Galway won the match, just about – battling off a 13-man New York 2-13 to 0-12 – thanks in no small part to the genius of Pádraic Joyce. Then, to add insult to near injury, Galway’s journey home turned into another battle thanks to the Icelandic ash cloud that wreaked havoc with air travel at the time.
“Pádraic Joyce was the difference that day and we were fortunate enough to have other leaders at that stage, like Joe Bergin, Matthew Clancy, lads who had been around the block, were able swing things in our favour. It could have been worse.
“Then we got caught in the ash cloud on the way home, too. We had a day extra in New York, which was grand, then flew home to London, which wasn’t planned. Then a bus to Holyhead, the ferry over to Rosslare, then the drive back up to Galway. It was horrible.”
Meehan has some fond memories of that trip, despite not featuring in the game, given he was just coming back from one of the many injuries that eventually forced him to retire a year ago, aged 29.
Nor has he any fear for the Galway team that take on New York at Gaelic Park this Sunday, in the annual precursor to the Connacht football championship. Mayo beat New York by 22 points last year, and Leitrim beat them by 24 points in 2013, and if anything Galway’s scare in 2010 has meant that no team takes the trip lightly anymore.
“It’s still so far removed from your normal championship preparation,” says Meehan, who recalls Galway spending the Friday before their game in 2010 at a reception on the Hudson River. “Their artificial pitch as well, I remember, was very warm, with the heat coming off the rubber. Your feet were burning after five minutes.
Grow brand
“But it’s also an opportunity for any county that goes out here to grow the brand and maybe fundraise. By and large, it can be a good experience, bringing a team away like that.”
Galway manager Kevin Walsh, he says, won’t be taking New York for granted, and Meehan also expects Galway to have some say in the this year’s Connacht championship.
“He [Kevin] brought Sligo along, and being a Galway man, I expect he’ll bring that through here too. He will leave no stone unturned, same as any man who came through under John O’Mahony. From what I hear he has a good way with the lads, training hard, and they’re happy enough . . . I suppose there’s hope in Galway every year, but being fair, I’m sure it’s Mayo, followed by Roscommon, followed by Galway.”
Meehan is not holding out much hope of returning to the intercounty scene. Now teaching at St Jarlath’s in Tuam, and with a young family, he hopes to play some club football with Caltra this summer, but admits he’s done next to nothing over the last year. “With a full new ankle, and a knee, then maybe, but I’m not even considering it to be honest. I’m doing a small bit of training with my club, but I haven’t trained much the past 18 months.”
Meehan understands why players such as Karl Lacey from Donegal are effectively full- time footballers – even if that sends out the wrong message to youngsters.
“Would I agree with him? I would. Absolutely. He is going to take the three or four months and give 100 per cent for Donegal team. Loads of lads are doing it, or as close to it. I did the same and I would do the same again if I could. Although it is very short-sighted – it’s not a good message to send out but it is happening, and will continue to happen. Maybe there needs to be better reimbursement for the players, but we are not going to go down that road.”
