Magpies power home

at Ballinakill 2-12 0-3

punch home a goal from the edge of the square after ten minutes.

While wearing the number 15 jersey on his back, McGirl spent much of the first half operating as a third midfielder helping to ensure that Newtown enjoyed the bulk of possession despite being pitted against the elements.

An Tochar found the going difficult past midfield with Justin Owens, Hughie McDaid and Oisin Grianan putting in a serious ‘backstop’ for the An Tochar attack to get past.

David Enright and Noel Brady put in a serious stint in the first half with Enright landing two long range points, one after five minutes and the second three minutes into the time added period.

Centre forward Seamus Carr got a point in between but the Newtown defence had the An Tochar attack well policed. Newtown turned over leading by 1-3 to 0-3 with the help of elements still to come.

Four points in a row from play by Barry Davis, Luke Martin, Hughie McDaid and substitute Sean Odlum in the opening ten minutes of the second period pushed Newtown out to a lead of 1-7 to 0-3.

Despite the best efforts of David Enright, Noel Brady, Paul Brady, Seamus Carr, Niall Gaffney and the Kennas, An Tochar were unable to make much progress past midfield.

We had a barren scoring period until the 20-minute mark when Newtown got going again. Barry Davis pointed a free, Sean Odlum added another and Hughie McDaid put the icing on the cake when he goaled with five minutes left on the click.

Sean Odlum, Barry Davis and Ciaran McGirl added three more points as Newtown played down the clock and recorded a very convincing 2-12 to 0-3 victory.

The game was played in a good sporting spirit all through, but Newtown’s Terry Murphy incurred the wrath of the referee in the final minutes and was dismissed on a red card. Based on this display it’s difficult to understand how Newtown found themselves in a relegation play-off.

- Newtown: Barry Davis 0-6, Ciaran McGirl 1-1, Hughie McDaid 1-1, Sean Odlum 0-3, Luke Martin 0-1.

David Enright 0-2, Seamus

Scorers AN TOCHAR:

Carr 0-1.

NEWTOWN:

Danny Brady; Mark O’Brien, Stephan Kelly, Ciaran Brady; Terry Murphy, Justin Owens, Stuart Synnott; Hughie McDaid, Oisin Grianan; Luke Martin, John Halpin, Barry Davis; Eoin Mayhew, Wayne Hamilton, Ciaran McGirl. Subs: Sean Odlum and Ray Carthy.

AN TOCHAR:

Donal Marah; Gerard Power, Michael Kinsella, Jack Salley; Sam Ireland, Gavin Staunton, Johnny Tobin; David Enright, Noel Brady; Niall Gaffney, Seamus Carr, Hugh Kenna; Michael McHugh, Conor Kenna, Paul Brady. Sub: Shane Healy.

REFEREE:

Eamon Doyle (Kiltegan)