Newtown crash out of Ulster
Newtownbutler 1-08 Drumlane 3-15
NEWTOWNBUTLER’S hopes of making it through to the Ulster Junior Football Championship final ended in disappointment in Clones on Sunday as they suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Cavan champions Drumlane.
Drumlane took control of the contest in the second quarter to go in at the break with a seven-point advantage, 1-09 to 0-05.
And they went on to put the game to bed as they rattled off a quickfire 1-06 in the opening eight minutes of the second half to take the contest out of Newtown’s reach.
Newtown though will be content to have achieved their main goal of the season, and that was the Junior Championship, which lifts them up to Intermediate level for 2023, and they will be hoping to build on that success.
Newtown had though started the tie brightly and after Ryan Connolly had opened the scoring for Drumlane, the First Fermanaghs responded with a converted Diarmaid King 45 and a point from play from midfielder Jason Flanagan.
However, Drumlane’s attack was threatening throughout, and they levelled things as Michael Owens clipped over after Liam Belton had hit the crossbar.
It continued to be tit for tat in an open start with Flanagan firing over his second and midfield partner Sean Conlon also on target while Belton notched two points for Drumlane to leave it 0-04 apiece after 13 minutes.
It was Drumlane though who started to take a grip on matters after this as Belton knocked over his third score while Daryl Mcgurren registered two points to put them into a 0-07 to 0-04 lead.
Newtown were struggling to get their hands on ball at this stage and Connolly converted a free before Owens tagged on a point.
And this was followed by the first goal of the day as Mcgurren
slotted home after good work by Darragh Dolan to make it 1-09 to 0-04.
Newtown did land the closing point of the half through Ger O’keefe, but at the break they faced a mountain to climb with seven points dividing the sides.
The First Fermanaghs needed a good start to the half if they were to get back into the game but instead Drumlane came flying out of the blocks to take the game away from Newtown.
Substitute
Drumlane penned Newtown in after the restart with substitute Gary Tubman and Mcgurren knocking over two points apiece for the Breffnimen, while Dolan was denied by the crossbar and Ciaran Crowe had an effort saved by Newtown goalkeeper Gary Mullaney.
A second goal though did arrive for Drumlane as Owens rolled to the net and when James Mccahill and Owens floated over points, it put Drumlane in a 2-15 to 0-05 lead.
Newtown finally landed their first score of the half in the 44th minute as King clipped over a free, but Drumlane continued to press forward and Dolan thumped home their third goal of the day with nine minutes to go.
Newtown did hit back with a goal of their own moments later, with Frank Mulligan rifling high to the roof of the net, while Drumlane goalkeeper Harry Clarke then made a good stop from Flanagan.
Newtown, to their credit, did keep battling to the end and Conlon knocked over two points from play, but a tough day at the office saw the First Fermanaghs finish with 14 players as King picked up a late Black Card as it finished 3-15 to 1-08.