New York travelled to Portlaoise on Sunday hoping to prolong their Tailteann Cup journey.
The Stateside team faced off with Laois in the preliminary quarter-final, playing for a place in next week's last eight meetings.
New York progressed automatically to the preliminary quarter-finals of this tournament. Laois, for their part, came into Sunday's game having been knocked out of the Leinster championship by Offaly in April. They went on to finish second to Fermanagh in their Tailteann Cup group.
As Sunday's game progressed, a shock New York win looked to be on the cards. However, the home side kicked on in the last 15 minutes, off the back of a shocking miss from New York's Jack Reilly.
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New York spurn huge chance to reach Tailteann Cup quarter-finals
With 20 minutes to go of Sunday's preliminary quarter-final and New York a point down, they were handed a lifeline. Shaun Fitzpatrick's red card reduced Laois to 14 men and the visitors kicked on in the following minutes.
The sides were level with 15 minutes to go and all the attacking play was directed towards the Laois goal. However, full forward Jack Reilly would spurn a golden opportunity to give New York a huge lead when he charged in on goal.
Approaching the edge of the square, Reilly chose not to pass to the man open to his left, instead blasting a shot wide with only Laois 'keeper Killian Roche to beat.
Cannot believe he didn’t slip this across! Shocking pic.twitter.com/lcmmPsEb8C
— GAA Coach Quotes (@GAAcoachquotes) June 9, 2024
Taking to Twitter, Donegal legend Eamon McGee said, "New York have just produced the worst goal miss I think I've ever seen in Gaelic games. Big chance for them gone."
New York playing Laois and New York have just produced the worst goal miss I think I’ve ever seen in Gaelic games. Big chance for them gone.
— Eamon Mc Gee (@EamonMcGee) June 9, 2024
It was indeed a big chance for them gone, with New York's presence in the game fading immediately after Reilly's wild miss.
From there, Laois would reassert their control of the game, ultimately building up a four-point lead by the full-time whistle.
It's a bitterly disappointing way for New York's season to end. Laois now progress to next weekend's quarter-finals, with the draw for the last eight to be made on Monday morning on RTÉ Radio 1's Morning Ireland.
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