Blues’ two-in-a-row dream alive and well
Newtown Blues St Joseph’s 1-18 0-9
NEWTOWN Blues remain on course for their first Joe Ward two-in-a-row since 2000/’01 following a routine dispatch of St Joseph’s in Dunleer.
Any hope that the second instalment of Saturday night’s double-header might be a bit more competitive than the curtain-raiser quickly evaporated as the Drogheda outfit exerted their authority with a familiar ruthlessness.
The champs snuffed out any threat of an upset with a relentless early assault, plundering eight points without reply in the space of 13 short minutes.
It was an emphatic riposte to an early Alan McKenna free, which had given the Joes an ever-so-fleeting lead.
Andy McDonnell started the Blues’ powerplay weaving his way through from the left to kick a trademark score and by the 20-minute mark, Ronan Phillips’ troops were out of sight.
Wing forwards Conor Branigan and Robbie Carr were in superb form, notching a brace apiece and with McDonnell and Kermode also chipping in with scores from midfield, there were just too many leaks for the Joes to plug.
All of the damage was inflicted by deep runners as it took 27 minutes for either of the Blues two inside forward to register, when Ross Nally made it 0-10 to 0-3.
McKenna added a couple more frees and David Kieran volleyed over their first point from play in the 28th minute.
David Kieran got the Joes off the mark from open play to cut the gap to six, but the Blues ensured their dominance was reflected on the half-time scoreboard when Branigan pulled on a loose ball to net from close range.
A further point from Robbie Carr made it 1-12 to 0-4 at the break, with the Blues’ devastating half forward line of Branigan, Downey and Carr adjourning with 1-8 between them.
There was no way back for the Joes at that stage and there was no respite in the early stages of the second-half.
Judge and Thomas Smyth traded early scores, but three points in quick succession form Nally, with a free, Robbie Carr and sub Hugh McGinn extended their lead to 14 points, 1-16 to 0-5.
Phillips rung the changes, but his troops continued to dominate and Judge and Jamie Kelly added a point apiece before the Joes saved a few blushes with the last four points of the match.
After losing Wayne McKeever in the close season and his replacement Terry McGuinness before the Championship even started, SFC survival was no mean feat for a Joe’s side that has also toiled without Adam O’Connor and Conall O’Hanlon this summer.
Defeat to the champs in the quarter-finals won’t take any gloss off that achievement and they can rebuild for 2019 with senior football to look forward to.
The Blues have much loftier ambitions and they march on to a semi-final date with Dreadnots.
NEWTOWN BLUES: Dean Martin; Fergal Donohoe, Cormac Reynolds, Paul Moore; Kevin Carr, Emmet Carolan, John Connolly; Andy McDonnell 0-2, John Kermode 0-1; Conor Branigan 1-2, Ciaran Downey 0-3 (2f), Robbie Carr 0-4; Colm Judge 0-2f, Ross Nally 0-2, Conor Moore. Subs: Hugh McGinn 0-1 for J Kermode (33), Jamie Kelly 0-1 for C Downey (39), Ronan Levins for J Connolly (45), Alan Connor for P Moore (49), Thomas Costello for C Judge (51), Brian Kermode for C Moore (56).
ST JOSEPH’S: Seamus Quigley; Conor Neary, Alan McKenna 0-3f, Stefan Potts; Aidan Kieran, Shane McQuillan, Liam O’Leary; Killian Staunton, Thomas Smyth 0-1; David Kieran 0-1, Daire Smyth 0-1, Craig Doherty 0-1; Alan Lynch, Oisin McGuinness, Conall Smyth. Subs: Alan Quigley 0-2 (1f) for D Kieran (29), Peter Brennan for O McGuinness (44), Cian McGuinness for K Staunton (46), Ben Mulligan for L O’Leary (53), Philip Brennan for A Kieran (58).