Newtownbutler produced a great comeback as they clawed their way back from seven points down to secure a 1-14 to 1-12?victory?over Irvinestown in Tempo last night.
Irvinestown appeared set to cause an upset as a Gary Maguire free in the opening minutes of the second half pushed them seven points clear, but Newtown finally found their feet in the game after this and they began to eat into the Irvinestownadvantage.
And with ten minutes to go they took the lead for the first time in the game as Ryan Carson’s free kick drifted into the back of the net.
Irvinestown did battle hard in the final stages but Mickey Fox’s side managed to keep their noses in front to seal their place in the quarter-finals.
Irvinestown had made a bright start to the contest as Gary Maguire knocked over two frees but Newtown responded to level matters with Ryan Carson firing over from play as well as from a free while Colum Monahan was denied a?goal?by a good save from St. Molaise goalkeeper Jerome Carleton.
The second quarter though saw Irvinestown take control of the encounter as they dominated the exchanges in the middle third.
John McElhill rattled over a good point from the left and this was followed by a point from Sheridan and a goal from his midfield partner Kevin Duffy. An incisive move put Duffy through on goal and he fired his effort low to the bottom corner.
When Dwayne Carleton then tagged on a point from play, Irvinestown found themselves 1-05 to 0-02 ahead and although Brendan McBrien pulled a point back for Newtown, points from Sheridan and Shane Goan pushed Irvinestown seven clear.
Jarlath Jackman accounted for the last score of the half for Newtown but at the break they faced a massive uphill task.
And the gap was back to seven early in the second half as Maguire clipped over a free but Newtown started to get a grip on proceedings at midfield and Carson and Monahan landed frees before James Connolly, who was an influential presence following his introduction in the first half, fired over from play to make it 1-08 to 0-07.
Maguire converted a free for Irvinestown but their attacks were becoming less frequent as Carson and Monahan pointed to leave two between the sides.
Conor McGuigan nudged Irvinestown three ahead once more but they were getting punished for any fouling at the back and Carson and Monahan both banged over frees to leave the minimum between them, 1-10 to 0-12.
And with ten minutes to go Newtown hit the front for the first time as Carson’s free found its way into the Irvinestown net to swing the game the way of the First Fermanaghs.
On two occasions in the final stages Maguire clipped over points from frees to cut the gap back to one, his points sandwiching a Niall Mohan fisted effort for Newtown, but as the game entered injury time Monahan rattled over a terrific free and Irvinestown’s misery was complete when Sheridan was red carded as Newtown edged their way into the last eight
By admin Sun 29th Jul
