Late New York rally secures historic All-Ireland title

Brian Coughlan, a key figure in an entirely home grown New York team, struck the winning point as the Exiles claimed a dramatic first ever All-Ireland JFC title success at Croke Park.

Johnny McGeeney's side lost out to Kilkenny in last year's decider but gained sweet revenge with a narrow win secured after a late fight-back.

Christy Walsh's Cats led by two points with just four minutes of normal time remaining but three late points from top scorer Shay McElligot ultimately left the teams on level terms deep into stoppage time and Coughlan popped up to kick the winner.

The son of an Offaly father and New York mother, Coughlan netted in last year's final and also struck 1-2 in Friday night's semi-final win over Warwickshire.

Kilkenny, meanwhile, beat London on Friday night and that intensive 1-13 to 0-15 victory appeared to take more out of them as they flagged in the closing stages and were powerless to prevent New York's late rally.

Kilkenny won last year's final by 3-12 to 1-9 though former county hurling stars Paul Murphy and Ciaran Wallace, their full-back and centre-back in 2022, were notable absentees this year.

Kilkenny lined out with 10 of the same team while New York showed more alterations with just eight of the same players from that 2022 final lineup.

CJ Molloy, who had a brief spell on the Donegal panel under Jim McGuinness, didn't feature last year but lined out in Friday's semi-final win over Warwickshire and again today.

Living in Donegal and part of the Ardara club, the nephew of 1992 All-Ireland Donegal hero Anthony Molloy struck New York's opening score from a free.

That tied the scores up at 0-01 apiece and they were level again at 0-02 apiece before Kilkenny briefly took the lead through Mick Malone.

But five