A trip of a lifetime was how Monaghan team manager Seamus McEneaney described the recent Monaghan county team visit to the Big Apple where "the hospitality was unbelievable and the whole group enjoyed what you could describe as a party from start to finish. It was a fantastic experience but it was also a fitting tribute to the boys for everything they had done and achieved during the year and it was good to get them together like that to socialise and get ready for what will be another very demanding season. There was great morale on the trip and everybody got on very well together. The boys were great ambassadors for their families, their clubs and for County Monaghan and I cannot speak highly enough of their behaviour throughout the whole 10 days. Great credit of course has to go to Matt Mohan for the fantastic work he did above and beyond the call of duty of a sponsor to help raise the finance for this trip and it speaks volumes about his dedication and commitment to Monaghan that he is willing to put in that work. We were delighted when he and his wife Fiona came out for the weekend to join in the fun. Cathal McCarthy too came on board to support the venture by making a donation towards spending money for the players and their wives/partners and that too has to be acknowledged because it is from such generosity that we are able to treat the players to the very best." The travelling party touched down at Newark airport on October 18th and arrived back on these shores on the morning of Friday October 27th. "On arrival we were greeted by the President of the GAA in New York, Seamus Dooley along with Carrick man Phil Treanor and once we got the party on to the waiting bus it was off to 7th Avenue and The Wellington Hotel. During the trip we used the same coach hire company and it made for very easy movement around the city with driver Randy catching the infectious ambience of the whole thing." In between it was a mixture of relaxing and enjoying the atmosphere of the Big Apple as well as seeing some of the world famous sites that dot this wonderful city. On top of that the visitors were guests at a number of functions in various parts of the city culminating in being guests of honour at the Monaghan Society/Monaghan GAA Club New York annual dinner dance in the Polish Centre in Yonkers on Sunday night October 23rd. "That was an unbelievable experience for us all to be ushered in as special guests carrying the national League Cup and it meant so much to so many people". That occasion also marked a special night for Sue and Phil McGeough for their work for the Monaghan Society. Phil is a native of Magheracloone who emigrated to the USA in 1957, later marrying Carrickmacross native Sue Devine in 1959 and a glowing and at times emotional tribute was paid to them by Anne Marie McQuaid, President of the Monaghan Society. "Following our arrival the scene was set for what turned out to be a fascinating experience when the whole party were guests of former county player Gerry Finlay and his wife Debbie at their Long Island premises, Shanahan's, where, following a sumptuous meal, an impromptu cabaret went on into the small hours with a number of the players and other members of the travelling party showing that they had some hidden talents. Shane Duffy kick started the whole thing with a powerful rendition of the Streets of New York, Hughie McElroy then got in on the act as did Stephen Gollogly, Dick Clerkin and Gerry Finnegan and it was a real party atmosphere". Gerry Finlay himself also contributed vocally but it was in his words for the players that his pride in his Monaghan and Ballybay roots came through. "It has been great" he told the players, " I had the privilege of playing for Monaghan and never won a medal, but you guys have and there is more if you are willing to work. You had a great run of results and did well against Tyrone in Croke Park but I know you can do better if you put in the effort and when you have an Ulster championship, maybe next year then I will invite you all back for another party". Other events were hosted in the Starting Gate in Queens, the Paris Bar, courtesy of John and Gabrielle Ronaghan, and the Saints and Sinners club in Woodside where the hosts, Paul and Robbie, made great efforts to make everyone feel at home. Later Paul and Robbie from Saints and Sinners presented the county panel with a set of T Shirts which will be treasured items and an outward manifestation by the wearers that "I was there". The Oldcastle on 7th Avenue under the direction of former Mayo keeper, Eugene Rooney was a regular haunt and hosted a breakfast for the group while Rosy O'Gradys also appealed to some. Like Gerry Finlay Eugene Rooney too urged the players to stick with it, "you are a young team and have shown what you can do in a short time and I know you can build on that next year and I wish you the best of luck". As well as that many indulged in the old New York adage of shop till you drop and a visit to the famous Woodbury Common shopping complex attracted great interest. And if that wasn't enough many people indulged in contacting relatives and friends in New York and there were a number of impromptu family reunions such was the interest by Monaghan folk who have been domiciled in the Big Apple in meeting up with friends and relatives from home. That interest was highlighted by the number of people who came up to greet members of the travelling party at the big Monaghan dinner, although there were a few surprise appearances on the night. Pat Cassidy and Lenny McKitterick from Carrickmacross who were on holidays in New York arrived for the occasion as did county minor hurling team manager Sean Guinan. Hugh James and Annie Moore from Newbliss were there while Una Healy, nee Graham, took time off from a very busy schedule surrounding her daughter's wedding in New Rochelle to come to the event along with members of her family. Her sisters Patricia McQuaid, Scotstown, and Mona McEneaney, Monaghan, were there along with Gerry McEneaney and their daughter Edel and later they were all involved in an impromptu Graham re-union in Lunneys Bar just off Times Square. The highlight of the trip though was the reception afforded the team at the big Monaghan get-together on Sunday night, October 23rd last, a joint effort between the Monaghan Society in New York, who were honouring Phil and Sue McGeough for their contribution to the society over a great many years, and the Monaghan GAA club in New York under chairman Bernie McEntee, a former Monaghan Harps player who spoke of the pride he had in welcoming a Monaghan team to New York as national league division 2 winners. A number of presentations were made on the night to team manager Seamus McEneaney, team captain Damian Freeman and County chairman, John Connolly, to mark the occasion of the Monaghan visit while a representative of The Northern Standard spoke of the role of the local media in bringing the news to Monaghan people who were abroad and he urged them to use The Standard to keep people here informed of the fortunes of the Monaghan GAA club in New York. Speaking at the function the president of the GAA in New York, Seamus Dooley spoke of the enjoyment Monaghan's successful year had brought to Monaghan gaels domiciled in the Big Apple. "You did us proud this year and it was a great lift to us here. I'm sorry you're game today could not take place but I know that this Monaghan team can go on to greater things and I'm inviting you now to come back again to New York to celebrate that further success". In congratulating Phil and Sue McGeough who were being honoured by the Monaghan Society Seamus Dooley urged the Monaghan players to "take your training seriously and make sure that you are running out again on Croke Park in 2006". County chairman John Connolly in congratulating the Monaghan Society and the Monaghan GAA club for jointly hosting the Monaghan team he urged both groups to continue to work together and complimented them on the great work that they had done over the years for Monaghan people living in New York. He also paid tribute to the Monaghan GAA club for the work that they were doing and to all Monaghan people who were involved in the promotion of Irish culture in the USA. Seamus McEneaney and Damian Freeman both thanked the Monaghan club and the Monaghan Society for the invitation to the function, Seamus McEneaney also acknowledging the efforts of Matt Mohan of FK M. and Monaghan county board for their ongoing support. The county board has been very good to us and I want to thank them for their support especially John Connolly, the chairman, secretary, John Scully and our treasurer Marion Donnelly. I cannot speak highly enough of Bernie McEntee, Dan Scott and Seamus Dooley for the work they have put in to help organise this trip and I also want to thank Phil and Anne Treanor and Tony McMahon for their donations towards the cost of the trip". Tony McMahon also used the occasion to announce that he will be returning to Monaghan soon to set up a new business which sounded a very exciting prospect aimed at the motor trade. For Bernie McEntee it was a night of great enjoyment to welcome the Monaghan team to New York and he thanked the Monaghan Society for their cooperation in jointly hosting the function. In paying tribute to the team management he singled out a fellow club man Enda Galligan for special tribute and had special words of thanks for Dan Scott for organising the function. The travelling party responded by presenting some framed photographs of the National League winning Monaghan team that they were told would be prized possessions in the various establishments where they will hang. The county team party also made a contribution to the night in the form of presenting a number of items that were put under the hammer in an impromptu auction that was expertly handled by Carrickmacross man Pat Cassidy. Paul Moore bought a framed photograph of the Monaghan team while Paul Flynn, Saints and Sinners, outbid everyone for the signed Monaghan jersey. The evening of Thursday October 27th saw a tired group troop off Randy's coach at Newark airport and while it was yellow taxis in the Big Apple everyone was delighted to see Brian Rice's yellow coach waiting at Belfast airport to ferry the travellers back to Monaghan. New York, New York, so good they had to name it twice, right on man!! Tweet

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