JOCKS’ HEARTS
Jocks dominated at midfield was also a strange call.
But there was nothing wrong with the Blues’ substitute decisions. Robbie Carr was first in for Moore and he made a tangible difference, kicking the Blues’ first score from play at the start of the second period.
Ian Connor also made a real impact as the Blues started to get on top as the half progressed.
But while they were a much-improved outfit in the second period, they couldn’t close the gap.
Tellingly though, they did string backto-back scores together for the first time in the match when Downey and Judge converted a free apiece to make it 1-8 to 0-7.
Judge’s free came from an incident that saw the Jocks lose goalkeeper Craig Lynch to a black card after a solo-run from goal went wrong and he was forced to pull down a goal-bound Ross Nally.
It was hardly a fatal blow for the Jocks, but it did seem to unsettle them and from there on the Blues did finally seem to take some semblance of control.
Another couple of back-to-back points from Downey and Branigan left a goal in it, 1-9 to 0-9, but they were still always going to need a goal.
Branigan really carried the fight to the Jocks in the closing stages and he made a crucial interception on Paul Berrill to set up Nally for the Blues’ equalising goal. Nally probably would have been awarded a penalty had he not hit the target, but after momentary confusion the Blues’ players wheeled away in celebration.
But almost immediately Sam Mulroy edged the Jocks back in front at the other end as they appeared to have weathered the storm.
The Blues came again, however, and Downey slotted over his fifth free and sixth point of the game, to level it up again in injury-time.
Another day out seemed the most likely outcome at that stage, but the Blues smelled blood and that man Branigan cut in from the right to kick a superb point with his weaker left foot.
The Jocks had one last opportunity to force a replay, but an attack down the left came to nothing and moments later Jonathan Conlon called it a day.
It was an agonising way to lose for the Naomh Mairtin and it will sting for some time.
It’s easy to say they will be back, but similar platitudes were extended to Dreadnots when they ran St Patrick’s so close in 2012.
The Jocks proved they have the style, flair and panache this season, but they’ll need a bit of resilience, graft and character to recover from this setback and come back stronger.
Just as the mighty Blues!
NEWTOWN BLUES: Dean Martin; Fergal Donohoe, Emmet Carolan, Paul Moore; Kevin Carr, Cormac Reynolds, John Connolly; John Kermode, Stephen Moonan; Andy McDonnell, Conor Moore, Conor Branigan 0-2; Ciaran Downey 0-6 (5f), Ross Nally 1-0, Colm Judge 0-2f. Subs: Robbie Carr 0-1 for C Moore (26), Hugh McGinn for C reynolds (ht), Ian Connor for J Connolly (35), Jamie Kelly for K Carr (49), Alan Connor for C Judge (58).
NAOMH MAIRTIN: Craig Lynch; Paul Berrill 1-0, Mick Fanning, Shane Campbell; Thomas Sullivan, Eoghan Callaghan, John Clutterbuck; Wayne Campbell, Conor Morgan; Stephen Campbell, Bryan McQuillan 0-1, Conor Healy; Conor Whelan 0-3 (1f), Sam Mulroy 0-5 (4f), Paudie McDonagh. Subs: JP Rooney 0-1 for P McDonagh (17), Darren Morgan for C Lynch (black card 45), Eoin Wright for B McQuillan (60+1).
REFERE: Jonathan Conlon.