‘We have no form line to see where we’re at’ — McGinley
New York manager, Ronan McGinley, in action against Roscommon's Donie Shine during the Rossies' narrow escape from The Big Apple in 2016. Picture: INPHO/Ed Mulholland
In a world where GAA managers play down their own chances and conversely play up their opponent’s odds of victory, New York manager Ronan McGinley isn’t going down that route.
Instead, he was simply being brutally honest when speaking to the media at the launch of the Connacht Senior Football Championship in Bekan on Thursday last.
McGinley — brother of three-time All-Ireland winner Enda — feels that his side are facing a Roscommon outfit who will have little room for sentiment this Sunday.
“You look at the way they are playing. They are so dynamic. They have real threats up top with Daire Cregg, Diarmuid Murtagh and Enda Smith. They are players that would be up there for Team of the League selections.
“Then they have St. Brigid’s players coming back in who bring a big quality boost to a team that were already performing well in the league. This year, they seem really organised and have a real intent about them.
“I think because they have that intent of making progress as a group, they will be fully focused on putting us to the sword early. It is not going to be a case where they think they are coming out for a weekend away. I don’t think that is going to be the case.
“They will be looking at it as they have Mayo in the championship in two weeks’ time after us, so they are going to come out and dictate how they want to play because they have a system throughout the league,” he noted.
Kerry’s Jack Savage and Jack Foley of Leitrim are involved in New York's playing panel this year. With 17 new players in their panel of 40 this year, New York are continuously having to adapt.
The lack of competitive fixtures and even challenge games mean that New York are heading into this game with question marks hanging over their heads.
“I would love there to be some way New York can get competitive games, but the reality is our last game was against Offaly in the Tailteann Cup (last year). For 40 minutes against Galway (in last year’s Connacht championship) things went great. Galway just pulled away from us in that game. Match practice and fitness told. But that gave us confidence.
“We went out against Offaly, and the wheels fell off the wagon. We were 15 points down at half time and had only scored two points. I don’t know if it is going to be a Galway situation or an Offaly situation against Roscommon. We have no form line to see where we’re at,” he noted.
New York’s 27-year stay in the Connacht championship could come to an end after this fixture. With their current cycle coming to a conclusion after Sunday’s game, McGinley is passionate in his belief that competing in Connacht is best for New York.
“It is there in the background. I think the reality of it would be that if the Connacht fixture doesn’t go ahead, I would say it would be very difficult for New York to maintain a presence in the championship. I know they are talking about dropping New York into other competitions, other provincials, having an open draw, or whatever system they want to do.
“It would be very disappointing if that happened. There is such a history there with New York in the championship. I would like to see it continue. I have a wee lad here, and I would like to see him have that opportunity in the future to represent New York. I think if that link is broken, it would be very difficult,” he concluded.
