In ideal conditions for football, our Seniors welcomed the 3A League champs, An Port Mór to Newtown on Saturday evening.
Our men couldn't have asked for a better start, with Aidan Davidson scoring a 2 pointer after as many minutes. That was followed by 2 scores from Paddy McVerry from play, with the visitors taking a while to find their feet. After a Conor Rock point, Newtown led 0-5 to 0-0 after 6 minutes. There was plenty of pressure being kept on the An Port Mór attack, as they managed their first score from play just shy of 8 minutes gone, to make it 0-5 to 0-1. They followed that with a super point from star forward, Cormac Kieran in the 12th minute. That would be Kieran's only score of the match, with the Newtown defence working well to keep his influence to a minimum.
Conor Rock was through for a goal, but the shot went over the bar, 0-6 to 0-2. At the other end, Gerard Watters made an excellent save off Gavin Kelly, and the visitors failed to convert the 45'. They made no mistake the second time though, as another 45' sailed over, leaving it at double scores after 19 mins. A few chances were missed by An Port Mór, and Newtown added scores from Paddy McVerry & Brian Caherty (f) to bring it to 0-8 - 0-4.
Both sides traded errors, with Pearse Woods' attempt dropping into the goalie's hands and a couple of wides from An Port Mór. Goal chances were thwarted again at both ends, before Benny Davidson kicked a great score to increase Newtown's lead to 0-9 to 0-5 at the break.
It was a game of two halves, where Newtown failed to capitalise on having an extra man after Jude Lavery was black carded in the 31st minute. Emmett O'Malley scored a fantastic 2 pointer to follow 2 scores from the visitors to bring the deficient back to 4. With the return to play by Lavery, An Port Mór seemed to kick into gear, with Finnian McKenna's goal coming shortly after in the 44th minute. That gave the visitors the lead for the first time in the match.
The lads will rue the 8 chances for scores that went wide in that earlier part of the second half. However, they didn't stop battling, and kept trying to work scores. An Port Mór pointed a free to lead 1-10 to 0-11 with ten minutes to go. Momentum could have swung in Newtown's favour if Caherty's goal hadn't been ruled a square ball. Seamie Finnegan scored a great point, followed by a free for An Port Mór 1-13 to 0-12. Darach Swift played a blinder against Kieran and made a great block to snuff out a goal opportunity for the visitors. The sides exchanged frees before the final whistle, 1-13 to 0-13 to the 3A League Champs.
Plenty to work on for the next fixture against Eire Óg this weekend. But the lads can take positives from it too - there were great passages of team work, with Gerard's kickouts taking some of the sting out of their lofty 6ft 9 John McLaughlin. There were a few goal chances missed, but the fact they were creating a lot of opportunities should give them a boost in their Round 2 preparations. We go again next Sunday - all support welcome.
Well done to Darach Swift for making the Sideline Eye Team of the Week!
Team: Gerard Watters, Oisin Hollywood, Conor Davidson, Nathan Vallely, Jack Carragher, Darach Swift, James Toner, Emmett O'Malley (2pt), Aidan Davidson (0-1, 2pt), Conor Rock (0-2), Pearse Woods, Seamie Finnegan (0-1), Brian Caherty (0-1), Benny Davidson (0-1), Paddy McVerry (0-3)
Subs used: Jonjo Powell for J Toner
Our men couldn't have asked for a better start, with Aidan Davidson scoring a 2 pointer after as many minutes. That was followed by 2 scores from Paddy McVerry from play, with the visitors taking a while to find their feet. After a Conor Rock point, Newtown led 0-5 to 0-0 after 6 minutes. There was plenty of pressure being kept on the An Port Mór attack, as they managed their first score from play just shy of 8 minutes gone, to make it 0-5 to 0-1. They followed that with a super point from star forward, Cormac Kieran in the 12th minute. That would be Kieran's only score of the match, with the Newtown defence working well to keep his influence to a minimum.
Conor Rock was through for a goal, but the shot went over the bar, 0-6 to 0-2. At the other end, Gerard Watters made an excellent save off Gavin Kelly, and the visitors failed to convert the 45'. They made no mistake the second time though, as another 45' sailed over, leaving it at double scores after 19 mins. A few chances were missed by An Port Mór, and Newtown added scores from Paddy McVerry & Brian Caherty (f) to bring it to 0-8 - 0-4.
Both sides traded errors, with Pearse Woods' attempt dropping into the goalie's hands and a couple of wides from An Port Mór. Goal chances were thwarted again at both ends, before Benny Davidson kicked a great score to increase Newtown's lead to 0-9 to 0-5 at the break.
It was a game of two halves, where Newtown failed to capitalise on having an extra man after Jude Lavery was black carded in the 31st minute. Emmett O'Malley scored a fantastic 2 pointer to follow 2 scores from the visitors to bring the deficient back to 4. With the return to play by Lavery, An Port Mór seemed to kick into gear, with Finnian McKenna's goal coming shortly after in the 44th minute. That gave the visitors the lead for the first time in the match.
The lads will rue the 8 chances for scores that went wide in that earlier part of the second half. However, they didn't stop battling, and kept trying to work scores. An Port Mór pointed a free to lead 1-10 to 0-11 with ten minutes to go. Momentum could have swung in Newtown's favour if Caherty's goal hadn't been ruled a square ball. Seamie Finnegan scored a great point, followed by a free for An Port Mór 1-13 to 0-12. Darach Swift played a blinder against Kieran and made a great block to snuff out a goal opportunity for the visitors. The sides exchanged frees before the final whistle, 1-13 to 0-13 to the 3A League Champs.
Plenty to work on for the next fixture against Eire Óg this weekend. But the lads can take positives from it too - there were great passages of team work, with Gerard's kickouts taking some of the sting out of their lofty 6ft 9 John McLaughlin. There were a few goal chances missed, but the fact they were creating a lot of opportunities should give them a boost in their Round 2 preparations. We go again next Sunday - all support welcome.
Well done to Darach Swift for making the Sideline Eye Team of the Week!
Team: Gerard Watters, Oisin Hollywood, Conor Davidson, Nathan Vallely, Jack Carragher, Darach Swift, James Toner, Emmett O'Malley (2pt), Aidan Davidson (0-1, 2pt), Conor Rock (0-2), Pearse Woods, Seamie Finnegan (0-1), Brian Caherty (0-1), Benny Davidson (0-1), Paddy McVerry (0-3)
Subs used: Jonjo Powell for J Toner
