Routine victory boosts ‘Well’s title prospects
NEWFOUNDWELL DULEEK 3 0
NEWFOUNDWELL now have leaders Trim Celtic firmly in their sights after Friday night’s victory over relegation-threatened Duleek lifted them into third spot in the Premier table.
Joint manager Danny Gartland watched Trim defeat OMP 2-1 in a feisty affair on Sunday and the ‘Well remain eight points adrift of the Meath club with three games in hand.
However, Gartland’s primary role as a spectator was to see the league leaders in action ahead of the clubs’ scheduled meeting in the Tully Bookmakers Cup next Sunday.
On Friday last at the DIFE all-weather pitch, though, the ‘Well had to make sure they continued their unbeaten record against Duleek who are fighting for their lives at the wrong end of the table.
Not surprisingly, the home side bossed possession and Stephen Murphy was unlucky not to score when his header from a set piece sailed towards the top corner, only to be headed off the line by a Duleek full-back.
The breakthrough goal eventually arrived after 25 minutes, with Ian Devine netting with a rare header as he converted a Paddy O’Boyle cross.
It remained 1-0 going into the break, with the ‘Well having to work hard to break down the defensive set-up employed by Duleek boss Pete Brennan.
The hosts almost doubled their advantage barely two minutes into the second half, with the same full-back denying John Kermode on this occasion with another goal-line clearance.
John Kermode had a hand in Newfoundwell’s second goal as he was fouled just outside the penalty area and up stepped big O’Boyle to fire the resulting free kick into the top corner.
Newfoundwell made absolutely sure of all three points when Craig O’Connor and Cormac Reid combined before putting Anto Burke through and he got in behind Duleek defender Bryan Murphy before firing past the keeper.
Afterwards, Duleek boss Brennan described the winning side as ‘the best I’ve seen in a long time’.
Attention now turns to next weekend’s big cup tie between the two title favourites, while Newfoundwell have as yet received no word following their appeal to the FAI over being thrown out of the FAI Junior Cup. NEWFOUNDWELL: Ronan Brown, Daryl McDonagh, Stephen Murphy, Paddy O’Boyle, Alan Murphy (Rob Cashman), Ryan Connor (Dean Carolan), John Kermode (Cormac Reid), Brian Kermode, Craig O’Connor, Ian Devine (Kevin Bull), Anto Burke (Adam O’Connor).
DULEEK: Adam Byrne, Chris McDonnell (Jamie O’Leary), Gary Nugent, Jamie Flaherty, Bryan Murphy, Matthew Noonan (Connor Tully), James Burke, Karl Dyas (Cormac McGroggan), James Guilfoyle, Caelan Duff, Alan Wilton. •Newfoundwell 2nds are also challenging Trim Celtic for the title in the Premier Reserve division and they defeated Kingscourt Harps 2-0 at the weekend with goals from Adam O’Connor and Brandon Sullivan.