Douglas squeeze Newcestown with impressive team display
Newcestown's Carthach Keane is tackled by Douglas' Kevin Hayes-Curtin, Eoghan Nash and Dylan Ward during McCarthy Insurance SFL Division 1 tie at Douglas. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
A comfortable win for Douglas as they easily saw off Newcestown in the McCarthy Insurance Division 1 Football league at Douglas at Saturday.
No individual performances on this occasion for the winners as the Brian Collins side look an outfit improving with every game they play in this league campaign.
Both sides looked evenly matched in the opening exchange as Newcestown’s Eddie Kenneally and Brian Hartnett exchanged points in the opening two minutes. After a good spell of possession, Douglas edged ahead courtesy of a classy Colm Joyce point.
Newcestown were intent on exposing Douglas’s defence with long balls kicked in towards the forwards and they almost raised the opening green but Eddie Kenneally’s shot was parried to safety.
It was the turn of Douglas to have a goal opportunity in the next possession but Dylan Ward fluffed a good chance.
Newcestown were certainly motoring as they fluffed two more goal opportunities but credit to Douglas their kicking was better and when Brian Hartnett registered a wonderful point in the 22nd minute they increased their lead to five points 0-6 to 0-1.
The trend of the game didn’t change in the closing minutes and Padraig Lucey kicked his first point following a mark with three minutes remaining.
A minute later a brilliant run by Seamus O’Sullivan saw him hauled down inside the square that saw the referee rightfully award Newcestown a penalty.
Up stepped Eddie Kenneally but his resultant kick was saved only for Carthach Keane to follow up with a ferocious shot.
The hard-working Alan O’Hare finished the half with a long-range point as Douglas went in at the break with a healthy five-point lead, 0-9 to 1-1.
Douglas had a good chance to put this game to bed three minutes into the second half but Ward missed a good opportunity with a goal at his mercy.
A minute later the city side were rewarded for their efforts when James Burke raced on to a good pass before assisting a fine pass to Brian Hartnett who billowed the back of the net with a ferocious shot.
Over the years Newcestown have been known for their resilience and battling skills and midway through the quarter they managed to come off the ropes to raise a green flag.
A sweeping three-man move saw Jack Meade pull the trigger with a blistering shot only for the Douglas keeper to parry it into the path of James Kelleher who finished with style and precision. In the closing minutes, Douglas remained firm and late in the game Darragh Kelly and substitute Jack Callaghan closed the game out with sublime points.
B Hartnett 1-2, C Joyce (f), A O’Hare 0-2 each, A Cotter (45), N Hartnett, P Lucey (m), D Kelly, J Callaghan, D Ward 0-1 each.
C Keane 1-0, J Kelleher 1-0, E Kenneally 0-2 (0-1 f), S O’Sullivan 0-1.
A Cotter; L Fogarty, D Murphy, K Hayes-Curtin; J Burke, C Kingston, D Ward; E Nash, N Hartnett; B Hartnett, S O’Leary Joyce, D Kelly; A O’Hare, P Lucey, C Joyce.
B Lynch for S O’Leary (36), D O’Callaghan for A O’Hare (38), S Ahern for E Nash (47), J Cunningham for C Joyce (58).
C Clarke; N Murray, C Twomey, J Kelleher; E Collins, M Collins, J Burrows, C Goggin, G O’Donovan; C Dineen, T Twomey, J Kenneally; J Meade, E Kenneally, S O’Sullivan.
C Keane for E Kenneally (25), J Kelleher for J Kenneally (45), P Collins for C Dineen (48).
Canice Walsh (Nemo Rangers).
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