Blues rally to seal Gaels’ fate

NEWTOWN BLUES DUNDALK GAELS 3-6 2-7

DUNDALK Gaels saw their slim hopes of avoiding automatic relegation disappear on Saturday night as they lost out to league leaders, Newtown Blues, at Newfoundwell.

The Dundalk men not only needed victory themselves but were hoping that Geraldines would lose out to Mattock Rangers in their final league game. However, in the end neither result went their way and they face a return to Division 2 after two years in the top flight.

The visitors began the game on the front foot and gave themselves a boost when Eanna McArdle found the net.

It got even better before the break when Ger McSorley slotted home a penalty to see his side lead by 2-4 to 0-2.

The Blues were uncharacteristically sluggish in the first half but they began to find their rhythm in the second half as Andy McDonnell and Ross Nally came to the fore in attack.

A goal from Nally along with a brace from McGinn saw the Drogheda men edge ahead and with the Gaels only able to add three points to their tally in the second period, it was the hosts who held out for victory to make it ten wins from their 11 outings in the league.

NEWTOWN BLUES: Dean Martin; John Connolly, Cormac Reynolds 0-1, Paul Moore; Alan Connor, Emmet Carolan, Stephen Moonan; Andy McDonnell, John Kermode; Ciaran Downey 0-2, Robert Carr, Conor Branigan; Colm Judge 0-1, Ross Nally 1-2, Conor Moore. Subs: Ronan Levins for J Kermode, Hugh McGinn 2-0 for R Carr, Ian Connor for C Moore.

DUNDALK GAELS: Adrian Rafferty; Oisin Murray, David McComish, Eamonn Kenny; Jason Clarke, James Stewart, Peter McGinnity; Barry Watters, David Maloney; Sean Murray, Derek Crilly, Niall Hearty; Ger McSorley 1-6, Errol Boyle, Eanna McArdle 1-0. Subs: Emmet Masterson 0-1, Conall McArdle.