AGONY FOR BLUES AS THEY LOSE IN LEINSTER
NEWTOWN Blues suffered an agonising injury-time defeat to a robust Rathnew outfit at the Gaelic Grounds on Sunday.
After a game of controversy and drama and at times downright thuggery, it was ironic that the winning score came by way of a punch and the considerable fist of James Stafford.
The former Wicklow star was the man-of-the-match and hero of the hour when he got his fist to a high Theo Smith miss-kick in the third minute of injury time.
It was certainly a sucker punch for the Blues and they had no time to pick themselves off the canvas as a game in which they always looked the better side, slipped from their grasp.
They led by four points to one at half time after a dominant display, but on the eve of Halloween eve seven wides would come back to haunt them.
The game was short on quality, the first point from play came on the stroke of half time, but high on tension.
A number of rows erupted during the first half including one before the ball was even thrown in. Ross O’Brien and Colm Judge engaged in a bit of shouldering and then it got a bit more serious with players from both sides coming together and temperatures rose sharply.
A few minutes into the match an even bigger row started near the side line involving most of the players on the field and caused substitutes to jump over the guard rail to offer their assistance.
Opposing supporters in the stand came together too but thankfully the flashpoint didn’t escalate into anything more
Rathnew didn’t play well at all in the first half and were fortunate that the Louth champions left their shooting boots at home.
They kicked two points and five wides by the time Mark Doyle converted his first free in the 23rd minute. Ross Nally kicked all of their first half points and they led by four points to one at half time, though they should have been further ahead.
The second half was a lot different. Before half time Leighton Glynn moved out around the middle of the field and Rathnew got a foothold in that sector and in the second half they evened out the Newtown Blues midfield pairing. James Stafford grew into the game and won some excellent kick outs though he didn’t dominate by any stretch, Andy McDonnell and John Kermode still had fine games.
Rathnew had a wonderful start to the second half that brought them straight back into the match. They almost scored a goal when Jody Merrigan’s free caused commotion around the square before Stafford won a kick out and went long. Merrigan won the ball and fed it to Mark Doyle for a goal. Having played terribly for thirty minutes Rathnew were level.
Newtown Blues responded well though and kicked two points to retake the lead, both a result of winning kick outs. The second was beautifully simplistic. Andy McDonnell won a mark and kicked long to midfield partner John Kermode in space who split the posts.
If that was a good response by Newtown Blues Rathnew went one better. Jamie Snell had a goal chance blocked off the line and Merrigan converted the 45. Three minutes later Eddie Doyle equalised from a free when Mark Doyle was fouled and then Ross O’Brien kicked Rathnew into the lead from 40 metres. There were 44 minutes on the clock and Rathnew led 1-4 to 0-6.
Merrigan tagged on another from play but Rathnew wouldn’t score again for twelve minutes, during which time Ross Nally scored three points to retake the lead. Rathnew had a couple of goal chances in that time, Merrigan was blocked on the line while substitute Hugh McGinn intercepted a pass intended for Nicky Mernagh who had a clear path towards goal. The interception resulted in Nally’s second point.
Nally’s third point came as the clock ticked past 60 minutes and without the added time being announced the kick out was crucial. Who do you think won it? Go on, guess.
Of course it was Stafford. The Newtown Blues team funnelled back, all but Ross Nally back within their own 45. Rathnew pushed up but were patient with the likes of Nicky Mernagh and Graham Merrigan, both of whom had excellent second halves, waiting to find the right pass.
The ball eventually got to Theo Smith in a shooting position whose shot landed in the square. On hand was that man Stafford to flick the ball into the net.
Full forward Doyle kicked a free a moment later when Stafford was fouled and Rathnew repelled a last ditch Newtown Blues attack to cap off a remarkable comeback.
RATHNEW: Peter Dignam; Paul Merrigan, Damien Power, Jamie Snell; Warren Kavanagh, Ross O’Brien 0-1, Enan Glynn; James Stafford 1-0, Theo Smith; Eddie Doyle 0-1f, Leighton Glynn, Graham Merrigan; Nicky Mernagh, Mark Doyle 1-2 (2f), Jody Merrigan 0-1 ‘45’. Subs: John Manley for Enan Glynn (44 mins); Stephen Byrne for Jody Merrigan (58 mins).
NEWTOWN Blues: Jason Lowney; Ronan Levins, Fergal Donohue, Paul Moore; Kevin Carr, Emmet Carolan, Cormac Reynolds; Andy McDonnell, John Kermode 0-1; Derek Kierans, Colm Judge, Robert Carr 0-1; Ciaran Downey, Ross Nally 0-7 (4f), Conor Moore. Subs: Conor Brannigan for Derek Kierans (38 mins); James Murray for Ronan Levins (40 mins); Hugh McGinn for Ciaran Downey (46 mins); Keith Lynch for Andy McDonnell (47 mins, inj.); Thomas Costello for John Kermode (63 mins, BC).
REFEREE: David Hickey (Carlow)