Brookeboro eye Newtown after seeing off Coa
Brookeborough 3-09 Coa 1-06
BROOKEBOROUGH advanced through to the Junior Championship semi-final with a nine-point victory over Coa on Saturday evening.
A ten-minute spell in the first half saw Brookeborough score three goals and take a ten-point lead at halftime.
Manager Barry Mckenna was pleased with his side’s win: “I’m very proud of the lads, as their work rate was phenomenal.
“We got the goals at times, but even without the goals I feel we still would have won.”
Lee Mcquade gave Coa an ideal start by putting them two points to the good in the opening minutes.
Damian Howell responded before Mcquade made it three points to one. Conor Goodwin finished off a fleeting Brookeborough attack to score their first goal before Liam Wray was shown a Black Card for an off-the-ball challenge.
Despite being a man down, Brookeborough were able to find a point through Patrick Boyle and then a second goal shortly after when a high ball into the square was met by Goodwin’s fist to sail past Coa goalkeeper Peter Phair.
Brookeborough’s rampant form in front of goal continued as Damian Curran was sent through on goal and he finished low to give his side a comfortable lead.
Coa were also reduced to 14 men after Niall Quinn was shown a Black Card by referee Fearghal Cleary and an Aidan Boyle free kick and a point from play from Oisin Howell pushed Brookeborough’s tally to 3-05.
After 20 minutes without a score, Caoilte Farry finally ended the O’dwyer’s drought as he converted from a 45’ to leave it at 3-05 to 0-04 going into the break.
Peter Phair did well to smother forward Patrick Boyle and deny a fourth goal early in the half.
Caoilte Farry added another point to the score line with a longrange free-kick off the ground as Coa pushed for a way back into the match. Aidan Boyle scored a free off the ground to make it 3-06 to 0-05, but Coa found a goal of their own as Quinn fed Lee Mcquade, who blasted the ball into the roof of the net from close range.
Farry added another score for Coa but Brookeborough found further points from Dylan Bogue, Aidan Boyle and Aaron Foy to round off the win.
Brookeborough will now face Newtownbutler in the semis, with boss Mckenna adding: “Newtownbutler were tipped in all the previews to win the Championship.
“We weren’t mentioned, but it is Championship football and there was only a point in both games this year, so we know if we perform to our strengths, we are a match for anyone.”