‘Mor drama to come as ‘Well stay in race
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THE NEFL Premier title race will be decided on the final day of the season after Newfoundwell fought off battling Duleek last Wednesday evening to move within two points of leaders Muirhevnamor.
Duleek were themselves desperate for a result in their fight against relegation and they gave the Drogheda side some anxious moments before Jordan Duffy’s late strike secured victory for the ‘Well.
No date has been set for the final round of games, which sees third-placed Bellurgan take on Newfoundwell and Navan Cosmos host leaders Muirhevnamor, with both those games likely to be played simultaneously in Navan. First, though, Bellurgan and Navan will play each other in their remaining back fixture.
Both teams fielded weakened sides at the Tollstone on Wednesday last, with John Kermode and Ciaran Carroll among the absentees for Newfoundwell and inspirational striker Barry Kavanagh missing for Duleek because of a hamstring strain.
However, Danny Gartland’s charges shrugged off the early loss of Stephen Murphy to injury and broke the deadlock after only 17 minutes when Brian Kermode got on the end of a Dale Harding free kick to head in the lead goal.
Shortly after, the ‘Well were unlucky not to double their advantage when Kermode flicked on keeper Keith Martin’s clearance into the path of Craig O’Connor who nipped in ahead of the advancing keeper, only to see his shot bounce off the inside of the post.
Duleek had their moments too as they attacked down the slope at every opportunity, but Kevin Bull was a rock at the heart of Newfoundwell’s defence and Martin had little to do in the first half.
The away side went on to double their advantage in the 50th minute from another set-piece. Harding was fouled and he whipped in the free kick himself towards Bull who got across his marker to send a header to the bottom corner.
Just before the hour mark, however, Duleek were right back in it when Bull and Daryl McDonagh both went for the same ball from a Duleek free kick into the box, and in the confusion that followed Dylan Kearney gave away a penalty kick which was scored.
Former ‘Well player Cormac Reid then came back to haunt his old club when he ghosted in at the back post to tap home a deep cross - 2-2.
Gartland responded by turning to the bench, and the changes could hardly have turned out any better as both incoming players went on to score.
Jordan Duffy’s strike, a lovely dinked effort over the Duleek keeper, restored Newfoundwell’s lead, and when the fourth goal went in they seemed to have secured the points.
Eoghan Mulroy’s foul in the box resulted in a penalty to Newfoundwell and a second yellow card for the Duleek player, and McDonagh stepped forward to convert the spot kick.
Duleek weren’t quite finished yet, though, and the 10 men pulled it back to 4-3 after a careless piece of defending by the title contenders.
Kermode struck the underside of the bar as the ‘Well looked to put the result beyond doubt, before they finally struck the fatal blow in the 87th minute. Their other second-half sub, Brandon Sullivan, took possession on half-way and ignored the management’s cries to take the ball towards the corner to play out a bit of time. Instead he drifted infield and played a one-two with Duffy before firing decisively into the roof of the net to make it 5-3.