Blues give survival prospects big boost
NEWTOWN BLUES GERALDINES 1-20 1-9
NEWTOWN Blues scored an important win in the battle for Division 1 survival when they defeated rivals Geraldines by 11 points.
After a closely contested first half, the Blues completely dominated the second period and ran out deserving winners as they moved off the foot of the table, ahead of Kilkerley Emmets and now level with the Haggardstown men.
It was the Gers who got off the mark through Glen Trainor but the Blues hit back to level before taking a grip on the game as they raced into a 0-9 to 0-3 lead.
The Haggardstown side rallied and hit points through Matt Corcoran and Josh Arrowsmith before a Jim McEneaney goal saw the Gers trail by just 0-10 to 1-6 at half time.
It was the Drogheda men who started the second half in fine form and stretched their lead with four of the first five points of the second half. The decisive score of the game arrived when Ross Nally hit the net for the Blues to put his side 1-14 to 1-7 in front.
There was no way back for the Gers after that and the Blues added a further six points to seal what could prove to be a very important victory.
NEWTOWN BLUES: Jay Lowney; Niall Costello, Fergal O’Donoghue, Johnny Connolly; Kevin Carr, Cormac Reynolds, Paul Moore; Andy McDonnell, John Kermode 0-2; Ciaran Downey 0-5, Robert Carr 0-1, Colm Judge 0-4; Hugh McGinn, Ross Nally 1-6, Conor Moore. Subs: Emmet Carolan 0-1 for J Connolly, Ronan Levins for P Moore, Lorcan McQuillan for J Kermode, Conor Brannigan 0-1 for H McGinn, Derek Kierans for C Moore.
GERALDINES: Sean McEneaney; Paul Clarke, Gareth Neacy, Kevin Pepper; Jack Traynor, Andy Lynch, Nicky Mackin; Paddy Hoey, Neil Jones; Matt Corcoran 0-1, Stephen Reidy 0-1, Sean Thornton; Josh Arrowsmith 0-1, Jim McEneaney 1-5, Glen Trainor 0-1. Subs: Dara Hamill for N Jones, Robbie Lynch for J Arrowsmith, Michael Rogers for A Lynch, Ryan Trainor for S