Blues’ fight for survival rumbles on

NEWTOWN BLUES MATTOCK RANGERS 1-14 1-12

NEWTOWN Blues enjoyed a night of mixed emotions on Saturday as victory over Mattock Rangers proved sufficient for them to avoid automatic relegation, but not enough to move clear of the play-off position.

With other results not going their way, the Blues now have to face St Josephs in a bid to secure their Division 1 status for 2018.

Mattock Rangers went into this game with only the slightest chance of making the top four but they still put it up the Drogheda men and despite trailing by seven points at the break fought back to within two at the final whistle.

The Blues knew they needed a win to be certain of finishing above Kilkerley Emmets and they had the better of the first half, with a goal from Hugh McGinn proving crucial as they took a commanding 1-8 to 0-4 lead at the break.

The Collon men were in no mood to give the Blues anything easy and they upped their game in the second half. A goal from Hugh Donnelly and a number of well-taken points kept the pressure on the Blues but in the end the visitors did enough to hold out for a vital win. NEWTOWN BLUES: Jay Lowney, Niall Costello, Fergal O’Donoghue, Johnny Connolly; Kevin Carr 0-1, Cormac Reynolds, Paul Moore; Andy McDonnell, John Kermode 0-1; Ciaran Downey 0-3, Robert Carr 0-1, Colm Judge 0-4; Hugh McGinn 1-0, Ross Nally 0-3, Conor Moore. Sub: Conor Brannigan 0-1 for H McGinn.

MATTOCK RANGERS: Mike Englishby; Alan Caraher, Sean Gilsenan, Shane Maguire; Brendan Leacy, Daire Englishby, Michael McKeown; Hugh Donnelly 1-1, Conor Leneghan 0-1; Terry Donegan, Ciaran Calvey, Ryan Leneghan; Aaron O’Brien 0-2, Adrian Reid 0-1, David Reid 0-7. Subs: Greg Monaghan for R Leneghan, James Caraher for S Gilsenan.