Blues cruise to victory over Dundalk Gaels
Newtown Blues 4-15
Dundalk Gaels 0-10
Newtown Blues barely got out of second gear, as they cruised to victory over the Dundalk Gaels in Darver on Friday evening, assuring their Senior Championship status for 2024.
In a repeat of the 2017 Joe Ward decider which kickstarted the Blues’ 3 in a row party, county man Ciaran Downey was a joy to watch, as he wasted no time in setting his side on their way to assuring their place at the senior top table for next year.
1-11 from Downey, which included stunning efforts with both feet, meant that the result was never in doubt from the start.
Having missed out on the knockout stages due to score difference in their group campaign, the Blues who were able to restore seasoned campaigners Andy McDonnell and Colm Judge to their line up, were dominant, leading their opponents by 2-5 to 0-3 heading into the second quarter.
Hard running from the impressive Alan Connor and Declan McNamara saw the latter set up Conor Branigan to rifle to the net inside the first minute, with Ciaran Downey accounting for all five of their opening white flags, including a magnificent strike with his left boot following a sublime solo dummy to bamboozle the Gaels rearguard.
However, just moments after Branigan’s major, Thomas O’Connell who has shown a knack for popping up in goal scoring positions, palmed the ball off the crossbar, following a Liam O’Connor pass across the square. A let off for the Blues, who pointed at the other end moments later through Downey.
Free taking from Dylan McKeown, and a fine effort from Mark Hanna who was again set up by O’Connor, after combining with Jack Mullen did close the gap to two points momentarily, as key members of last year’s Dundalk Gaels minor side who reached the championship final all acquitted themselves well, including O’Connor, Mullen and Shaun Duffy, with the Dundalk side clearly in transition.
A fine turnover from half back Iollan Farrell in the Gaels half, as the Blues pressed up, led to Declan McNamara firing to the net for goal number 2. Farrell is a young player who can be very satisfied with his night’s work.
The Blues’ dominance was there for all to see, winning 50% of the Gaels kickouts in that first half, with the likes of Farrell, Alan Connor, Daire Nally, and the experience of John Kermode meaning that they cleaned up in that sector. Alongside, Connor Branigan, and Downey, Alan Connor was another player who saw plenty of the ball, with 20 possessions over the hour.
Liam O’Connor and Mullen once again combined to set up a fine score from Gary Shevlin, but the always impressive Ciaran Downey had the final say of the half, with 3 further precise placekicks, to put his side in the driving seat, at 2-9 to 0-5 at half time.
Second Half:
Newtown Blues showed no signs of letting up, and by the time Ciaran Downey sent a missile like shot to the roof of the net for their third green flag 5 minutes after the restart, the game was effectively over as a contest at 3-12 to 0-5.
While it was mere shooting practice for the likes of Ciaran Downey, and Jamie Kelly who continued to find the range, there was even time for young sub Emmet Murray to combine with Iollan Farrell in a slick passing move through the hands, which saw Declan McNamara parry the ball to an empty net to make it 4-13 to 0-7.
Despite being well beaten, the Gaels did not throw in the towel, with some impressive shooting from Dylan McKeown among their highlights, including a long-range effort after being teed up by the hardworking Luke Murray.
Sub Éanna McArdle (0-1), and an acrobatic effort from Jamie O’Connell (0-1), along with another point from O'Connell, kept the scoreboard ticking, but the last say appropriately went to Downey, who’s 11th notch of the game capped off a wonderful performance, finishing with 21 possessions himself.
Last year’s finalists Newtown Blues assured their senior safety, while the Gaels will play either St Fechins or St Brides in a relegation play off final.
Newtown Blues: Johnny McDonnell; Ian Connor, Ciaran McCann, Johnny Connolly; Alan Connor, Ciaran Cluskey Kelly, Iollan Farrell; Daire Nally, John Kermode; Jamie Kelly (0-2) (1f), Ciaran Downey (1-11) (7f), Conor Branigan (1-0); Colm Judge (0-1), Andy McDonnell, Declan McNamara (2-1).
Subs: Conor McGuirk for Kermode (43), Emmet Murray for Cluskey Kelly (45), Cathal Broderick for Judge (45), Evin McConnon for Branigan (55), Joe Harte for Kelly (59).
Dundalk Gaels: Tom Mahon; Mark Hanna (0-1); Oisin Murray, Paul McCrave; Jack Mullen, James O’Connell (0-1), Shaun Duffy (0-1); David Moloney, Jordan Keating; Liam O’Connor, Tom O’Connell, Aaron Culligan; Gary Shevlin (0-1), Dylan McKeown (0-5) (4f), Luke Murray.
Subs: Mark McCabe for Culligan (HT), Éanna McArdle (0-1) for Shevlin (HT), Eamon Kenny for Moloney (36).
Referee: Ultan McElroy (Kilkerley Emmets).