Historic year ends ‘Well

Newfoundwell 3 Ardee Celtic 1

JOINT manager Paul Crowley paid warm tribute to his Newfoundwell team after they ended this history NEFL Premier Division-winning season with a second piece of silverware.

The League grounds in Navan played host to the Kilmessan Shield decider on Friday evening and two first-half goals set the Drogheda side on their way to what was a fairly comfortable victory.

Overall, the final did have an end-of-season feel to it, partly as a result of the long wait to have the game played and partly because both teams were missing a large number of players for various reasons.

The first of the Newfoundwell goals came in the 25th minute when Brian Kermode played a sweeping 50-yard pass from right to left in the direction of Ian Devine. The striker controlled the ball brilliantly before bending a superb angled shot past James Torris from outside the box.

On 35 minutes Ardee conceded again, this time from a corner kick, as Devine swung the ball in and Kevin Bull planted a header into the net with a move straight off the training ground.

The mid Louth club, who won their semi-final match in this competition way back on March 3rd, had a chance to halve the arrears when James McMullen burst forward menacingly, only to be upended by ‘Well veteran Alan Murphy.

The match referee decided on a yellow card for the former League of Ireland star, despite claims from Ardee that it was a last-man challenge that warranted red.

Soon after that the ‘Well extended their lead to 3-0 with a good finish from John Kermode, and the Newtown Blues footballer was unlucky not to score again when his piledriver bounced down off the underside of the bar, with some spectators feeling the ball had crossed the line.

Aree pulled a goal back on 78 minutes when their substitute Shawni Dowdall burst clear of the ‘Well defence and sent a low shot past Ronan Brown, but the ‘Well kept the ball well in the latter stages to nullify the threat of a second Ardee goal and afterwards Crowley, who manages the team with Danny Gartland, said: ‘After a long, physically trying season, the lads showed their professionalism and a great attitude.

‘It was important to finish the season right. One trophy out of three wouldn’t have been what we were looking for, but two out of three we can handle.’ NEWFOUNDWELL: Ronan Brown, Kevin Bull, Stephen Murphy, Daryl McDonagh, Alan Murphy, Cormac Reid, Brian Kermode, Craig O’Connor, Dean Carolan, Ian Devine, John Kermode. Subs used: Niall Costello, Adam Brady, Ross Reid, Johnny Carroll, Kenny Hurley.

ARDEE CELTIC: James Torris, Robbie Reynolds, John Flanagan, Niall Sharkey, Ciaran Clarke, Dylan Maher, Lorcan Malone, Mikey Nulty, Gareth Kane, Bryan O’Connor, James McMullen. Subs: Shawnie Dowdall, Pierce Hawkins.

Fixtures

WEDNESDAY JUNE 6th, 7.30 Over 35 Group A:

OMP v Moneymore DMC, St Mary’s Park, P Henry; Parkvilla v Johnstown, MDL Grounds, Conor Byrne.

THURSDAY JUNE 7th, 7.30 Over 35 Group B:

Ardee Celtic v Carrick, C Halligan.

FRIDAY JUNE 8th, 7.30

O Neills LFA Over-35 Cup 2nd rd:

Rock Celtic v Irishtown, 8.0, B Gillespie.

Over 35 Group A:

Black Bull v Electro, St Oliver’s School, P Malone.