Woods seals win for Éire Óg
Newtown’s bright start thwarted by Lawless switch
PAUL HAYDEN’S Éire g Greystones footballers got off to a winning start in their Division 1A campaign last Thursday night thanks to a 55th minute Danny Woods goal that proved to be the difference between the two sides on a cold night in the north of the county.
The Magpies started better at the Greystones venue with nippy Ross Davis causing havoc in the Éire Óg defence in that vopening 30.
Davis was involved in everything positive in the opening period and scored five first half points while setting up a goal and a point also.
At the other end, Éire Óg hadn’t mustered an attack with the Newtown pressure but their first foray into the Newtown dangerzone was a telling one with James Cranley firing home an opening goal.
Paul O’Riordan lasered a shot into the corner of the Greystones net and at the half time interval, Newtown looked to be out of touch with a five point lead.
Three changes at half-time from the home side provided the catalyst for their victory. Darren Hayden’s move out the pitch paid early dividend with a point from the throw in. James Cranley knocked over two scores as good as you would see in Aughrim and Sean Lawless was given the task of tormenting Davis which he did with great success.
In a game in which Newtown led for 52 of the 55 minutes of action, they were dealt a cruel blow when Danny Woods rifled the ball into the top corner of Ken Turner’s net.
Turner had made numerous saves throughout the clash to keep his side ahead and had been very impressive throughout.
Newtown couldn’t muster another attack and a final point for the impressive Darragh Shields put the final nail in the coffin earning a hard earned two points for the home side in an entertaining encounter.
Scorers - Éire Óg: James Cranley 1-2, Danny Woods 1-0, Darragh Shields 0-3, Darren Hayden 0-2, Shawn Cranley 0-2 (2f), Cian O’Flaherty 0-1.
Newtown: Ross Davis 0-7 (6f), Paul O’Riordan 1-0, Adam Heffernan 0-1, Neil Martin 0-1, Conor Odlum 0-1. gast, Sean Lawless for M. Walsh, Michael Conway for E.McTague.
NEWTOWN: Ken Turner, James Synnott, John O’Donohoe, Glen Carthy, Aaron Toner, Robert Greenan, Karl Carthy, Paul O’Riordan, Declan Doyle, Adam Heffernan, Neil Martin, Sean Gregory, Conor Odlum, Sean Heffernan, Ross Davis. Subs: Ciaran Doherty for J. Synnott, Michael Heffernan for R.Grennan
ÉIRE ÓG GREYSTONES: Conor Browne, Luke Prendergast, Dominic O’Brien, Eoin McHugh, Eoin McTague, Stephen Kelly, Darragh Shields, Dave Rooney, Danny Woods, Michael Walsh, Conall Deeney, James Cranley, Cian O’Flaherty, Darren Hayden, Shawn Cranley. Subs: Anto Byrne for C. Deeney, Matt Maguire for L. Prender-