Inside Track: Blues’ championship destiny is out of their own hands
Could the unthinkable happen, Newtown Blues going out of the senior championship at the league stage? Records aren’t at hand, so it’s not known if it happened before.
What is known, however, it didn’t happen in 2017 and for two years after that. In that period, there was no team better, the Joe Ward Cup going to Drogheda each time, bringing the club’s count in the competition to 23.
And though there have been no title wins in the meantime, last year Blues played in the final, and it was only after a replay that they went down to St Mary’s.
Pundits’ opinion and the bookies’ odds suggested Blues would be there or thereabouts this time. They were in the top three in the betting with Mary’s and Naomh Mairtin and were named by some as potential champions. All others were double figures, as much as 100/1 being available about the Gaels team supported by your writer.
But having picked up just one point form their opening game with St Joseph’s and then being beaten by St Patrick’s on Sunday last, Blues’ slim chance of survival depends on how Joe’s fare in their next weekend’s tie with Pat’s. A win for Joe’s will seal Blues’ fate, but if Pat’s win, it will all depend on the dividing margin. If it’s six points or more, Blues will survive.
On their second visit to a Dundalk venue in a week, Blues showed only brief reminders of the good years at Clan na Gael Park. Most of them came in the second half, which at one stage had Pat’s ten points clear.
In building that lead, Pat’s gave us their own reminder – of what it was like when they ruled the roost, winning seven titles in 13 years. A survivor from then, Dessie Finnegan, began at midfield and made a telling contribution until being replaced in the final quarter.
Blue's were at their best as they chipped away at the Lordship side’s advantage. They got it down to three points, and looked to have a real chance of chiselling out a draw at least, but Pat’s steadied the ship, adding two points to win by five and move on to the quarter-finals.
Also through to the last eight are the title-holders, St Mary’s. Having routed St Bride’s the previous week, the champs were expected to have it easy against Cooley Kickhams. It didn’t happen. Kickhams made a real fight of it, missing out by just four points. They’ll have high hopes of going through, taking on Bride’s this weekend.
Naomh Mairtin all but booked their passage to the knock-out stages by beating Dundalk Gaels by 13 points on the first weekend of senior championship activity. The twice champions in the past three years were out against St Mocha’s yesterday evening, and regardless of how it resulted, they should go though. Mochta’s play Gaels this weekend.
Dreadnots won their local derby with St Fechin’s in the third of Sunday’s matches to advance to the quarters. Next weekend’s match will determine whether if it’s Geraldines or Fechin’s who join the Clogherhead side.
The championship season is getting to an interesting stage. The quarter-finalists in senior will be known this weekend, while wins in the four junior matches will leave the way clear for the semi-finals. The last eight in intermediate will be on sod the following weekend.