Newtown take their chances

Tinahely lose gripping game

NEWTOWN TINAHELY 7-06 4-00

EACH side battled to the final whistle in this gripping encounter played out in excellent conditions in the Centre Of Excellence on Saturday afternoon last.

Newtown proved to be more clinical in their forward line,whereas Tinahely rued missing a number of good goal chances at crucial stages during the match.

Mason Melia opened the scoring in the fifth minute with a longrange point to get Newtown off the mark after good build up play by Shane Dunleavy.

Luke Breen fielded the resultant kick-out and played in Aaron Killick whose shot shook the back of the Tinahely net for the first major of the match to increase the Newtown lead.

Tinahely broke up the field and a rasper off a shot by Thomas Kelly was brilliantly cleared from crossing the goal-line by Shane Synnott. Larry Kinsella should have raised a green flag for Tinahely but dragged his shot just wide as Tinahely started to settle into the game.

Tinahely were hit with another sucker-punch when Adam Martin was in like a light to finish to the net after Charlie Sullivan’s initial shot was sensationally saved and parried by goalie Jake Kenny.

Tinahely hit back hard with a brace of goals, the first from a sublime pass from Thomas Kelly to Daniel Wright who bulged the Newtown net and the second goal from Thomas Kelly to eat into the Newtown lead,after great work by Jake Kelly and Oran Doyle.

Newtown steadied the ship with a brace of points from the boot of Charlie Sullivan, who was winning a lot of possession in the midfield area.

Yet again Sean Bishop saved a Thomas Kelly goalbound shot as things ebbed and flowed up and down the pitch.

However, Newtown raised three more green flags,one from Mason Melia, and a brace of goals by Shane Dunleavy before Eamon Doyle’s half time whistle sounded with the score reading 5-02 to 2-00 in favour of Newtown.

Newtown started off the second half at pace and registered 2-01 within the opening ten minutes to increase the lead substantially with goals from Darragh Heffernan and Mason Melia after good work by Bobby Dowling and Luke Breen.

Where nearly every shot for Newtown registered a score, up the other end nothing went right for Tinahely who valiantly battled away, Maurice Hedderman played in Larry Kinsella who had another goalbound shot brilliantly saved by Sean Bishop out for a 45.

Kevin Murray had another effort cleared off the line by the Newtown defence. Ryan McMahon split the posts with a great individual score as Newtown rallied again.

Darragh Heffernan closed out the scoring for Newtown with a well taken point.

Tinahely rallied again and a goal by Daniel Wright was followed up by another goal from a penalty from the boot of Larry Kinsella, which closed out the scoring and the game.

Newtown’s Shane Dunleavy was presented with the Wicklow People Man of the Match award. Coiste na nOg Secretary,Pat Dunne presented the Newtown Captain with the Shield.

Scorers - Newtown: Shane Dunleavy 2-00, Mason Melia 2-00, Daragh Heffernan 1-02, Aaron Killick 1-00, Bobby Dowling 1-00, Ryan McMahon 0-02, Charlie Sullivan 0-02.

Tinahely: Daniel Wright 2-00, Larry Kinsella 1-00 (pen.), Thomas Kelly 1-00.