Blues seal survival

NEWTOWN BLUES HUNTERSTOWNS 4-10 1-6

NEWTOWN Blues warmed up for their county final date with Dundalk Gaels with a comfortable play-off victory over Hunterstown Rovers on Wednesday night.

The Newfoundwell outfit’s presence in the Division 1 and 2 promotion/relegation battle made the four-way tussle a daunting porposition for Naomh Fionnbarra, Hunterstown and St Joseph’s, and so it proved as the Drogheda men held onto their top tier status with ease.

Rovers booked their place in the winer-takes-all decider by seeing off the Finbarrs, while the Blues racked up the first of two impressive semi-final wins over St Joseph’s.

But the final was a one-sided affair as the Blues got the job done by half-time.

Derek Kierans staked a loud claim for a county final start with a first-half hat-trick, helping his side to a 3-7 to 1-1 lead at the interval.

Ryan Burns netted the Hunterstown goal, but the men in red played second fiddle to Andy McDonnell and John Kermode around the middle.

To their credit, Rovers battled on gamely after the break, but the Blues’ gaze inevitably drifted towards the county final on Sunday week.

And Rovers’ rescolve cracked in the final few minutes as Blues tagged on 1-3, with the goal coming from sub Hugh McGinn. BLUES: Jason Lowney; Fergal Donohue, Paul Moore, John Connolly; Kevin Carr, Emmett Carolan, Stephen Moonan 0-1; Andy McDonnell 0-1, John Kermode; Conor Branigan 0-1, Ciaran Downey 0-1, Robbie Carr 0-1; Colm Judge, Ross Nally 0-4, Derek Kierans 3-0. Subs: Cormac Reynolds, Hugh McGinn 1-0, Conor Moore, Ronan Levins, Jimmy Murray 0-1.

Niall Carrie; Martin Lennon, Brian Matthews, Paul Taaffe; Patrick Taaffe, Richard Taaffe, Brendan Lennon; Tony McKenna 0-1, Ryan Ward 0-1; Alan Landy 0-2, Glen Matthews, Paddy Mooney; Keith Brennan, Ryan Burns 1-2, Paul Carrie.

REFEREE: David J McArdle.