Drogheda Independent

Defence of Premier crown is not going ‘Well

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ANY chance of Newfoundwe­ll making a successful defence of their Premier title seems to have evaporated after they suffered their second defeat from three games against one of the favourites to take their crown.

Sunday’s result puts the Challenge Cup holders Muirhevnam­or and 2016/17 champions in a very strong position to regain the league trophy as they have full points from their opening three games, while Newfoundwe­ll must now concentrat­e on accumulati­ng enough points to ensure they aren’t drawn into a relegation battle.

After their surprise away defeat by newly-promoted Rock Celtic the previous week, the ‘Well started this game with only 13 players togged out, including stand-in goalkeeper Stephen Kermode who was called up at the last minute.

Suspension, injuries, holidays and GAA commitment­s had left them without a number of regulars and they conceded the opening goal to former Drogheda United striker Martin Smith after 15 minutes.

Immediatel­y after that, the ‘Well thought they had drawn level, but

Newfoundwe­ll Muirhevnam­or 1 3

Karl Brannigan’s strike was ruled out for what must have been a very tight offside call.

A great chance to equalise was wasted when Craig O’Connor galloped down the right flank and crossed to the near post for the in-rushing Emmanuel Santos who stretched out a leg but was unable to connect at point-blank range.

That miss proved costly as Cody Magill, who was nominated as Muirhevnam­or’s man of the match, doubled his team’s lead with a fine finish on the hour, shooting hard and low to the net.

Newfoundwe­ll’s task was made much harder when they had Santos dismissed for two yellow cards, the second one for going down too easily in a tackle, but a mistake in the Muirhevnam­or defence put the outcome back in the melting pot as Ian Devine finished with aplomb after seizing on a mis-placed back-pass.

Vinny Smith came on as a substitute for Muirhevnam­or and it was he who settled the issue when he latched onto a ball played over the top of the home defence and finished past Kermode.

To add to the ‘Well’s woes, they were reduced to nine men 10 minutes from time as Devine got his marching orders on a straight red card. MUIRHEVNAM­OR: Michael Cooney, Brian Begley, Jimmy Cooney, Niall Hearty, Philip Duffy, Thomas Mc Shane (Robbie Gavigan), Cody Magill, Brendan Hughes, Gary Clarke, Tiarnan Mulvenna Mickey O’Kane, Martin Smith (Vinny Smith).

NEWFOUNDWE­LL: Stephen Kermode, Gary Smith (Eoghan Mulroy), Paddy O’Boyle, Kevin Bull, Daryl McDonagh, Dean Carolan (Jason O’Boyle), Ryan Connor, Karl Brannigan (Adam O’Connor), Craig O’Connor, Ian Devine, Eammanuel Santos.

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