Jackson’s double gives Newtown blues

TWO second half goals from Liam Jackson helped St Marys claim victory over Newtown Blues in Newfoundwell on Friday night.

The result adds further pressure on the County Champions as their early-season difficulties continued despite some encouraging signs in this encounter.

The Blues began the game determined to get their first win of the campaign and despite conceding the first score to Ronan Carroll, they found the net after just five minutes through Conor Moore.

It looked as if that score would be enough to give his side the lead at the break but in the closing moments Karl Faulkner found the net to send the Marys in with a 1-6 to 1-5 advantage.

The Blues levelled shortly after the restart but the Ardee side grabbed the initiative on 35 minutes when Jackson found the net from the penalty spot.

However, the game turned in favour of the Blues as Ciaran Downey’s treble saw them regain the lead.

The Marys response was swift as Ciaran Keenan, Evan Malone, RJ Callaghan and Cian Commins replied before Jackson struck his second goal to open up a fivepoint gap.

It proved to be enough to see their side come out on top despite two late points for the Blues.

ST MARYS: Alan McGauley; Donal McKenny, Barry McCoy, Conor Keenan; Niall Eccles, Karl Faulkner 1-0, Eimhin Keenan 0-1; Robert Leavy, RJ Callaghan; Jamie Rooney, Darren Clarke 0-3, Liam Jackson 2-0; Ciaran Keenan 0-1, Ronan Carroll 0-3, Cian Commins 0-1. Subs: Tom Jackson for N Eccles, Evan Malone for R Carroll, Philip Trainor for B McCoy, Conor Gillespie for J Rooney.

NEWTOWN BLUES: Danny Rothwell; Niall Costello, Fergal Donaghue, Alan Connor; Thomas Costello, Emmet Carolan, Alan Connor; Cormac Reynolds, John Kermode; Daire Nally, Ciaran Downey 0-6, Conor Moore 1-0; Colm Judge, Jamie Kelly 0-5, Ross Nally 0-1. Subs: Keith Lynch for J Kermode, Ronan Levins for C Moore.