Leitrim will take a step into the unknown on Sunday when they square up to New York in the first round of the Connacht SFC.

The white flag will be dropped on the 2013 All-Ireland SFC is the less than auspicious surroundings of Gaelic Park which is as far removed from Croke Park on the third day in September as you can get.

Leitrim's year got off to a great start when they captured the FBD Connacht League - the county's first silverware at senior level since the Connacht triumph of 1994 - but they didn't enjoy the best of FL Division 4 campaigns.

They finished fifth in the bottom table but, in their defence, they had to field without the likes of goalkeeper Cathal McCrann, midfielder Wayne McKeon and forward Adrian Croal at various times due to injuries.

They travelled to the US with practically a full clean bill of health on Thursday.

Brian McDonald, who underwent surgery on a Gilmore's groin complaint, is the only absentee while the management of Barney Breen and George Dugdale will monitor Cian Reynolds' hamstring injury.

New York - managed by 1992 Donegal All-Ireland winning captain Anthony Molloy's brother Connie - will roll out the red carpet for the visitors but once the ball is thrown in they will be going all out to secure a historic first championship success.

Two years ago Mayo came close to suffering a humiliating defeat at the hands of the Exiles but Sligo had no such worries 12 months ago and finished with 24 points to spare.

New York will look to the likes of their manager's son CJ Molloy, ex-Monaghan forward Rory Woods, Westmeath's Conor McCormack and Ronan McGinley, brother of Tyrone All-Ireland winner Enda, to lead the way.

While Leitrim are in no position to take New York's finest for granted, it would be a massive upset if they come home empty-handed from this weekend's fixture.

Verdict: Leitrim

New York - Gavin Joyce; Daniel Jackson, Mike O'Regan, Paul Lambe; Lonan Maguire, Keith Scally, Alan Rafferty; CJ Molloy, Gary O'Driscoll; Eoin Ward, Jason Kelly, Conor Lynam; Mickey Annett, Rory Woods, Justin Burke.

Leitrim - Cathal McCrann; Alan Wynne, Fabian McMorrow, Paddy Maguire; Danny Beck, Gary Reynolds, Wayne McKeon; Tomas Beirne, Darren Sweeney; Paul Brennan, Emlyn Mulligan, Gerry Hickey; Kevin Conlon, James Glancy, Robbie Lowe.

Odds: New York 8/1, Draw 20/1, Leitrim 1/16

Match Details:Gaelic Park, NY, 3pm (8pm Irish time), Sunday, May 5th Tweet

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