St Joseph's cause early championship shock in thrilling draw with Newtown Blues

ANCHOR TOURS SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP 

ROUND 1 GROUP 3

NEWTOWN BLUES 1-11 ST. JOSEPH'S 0-14

There wasn’t a score for well over a quarter of an hour due to the tension, as St Joseph’s nonetheless caused an upset to share the spoils with last year’s losing senior finalists Newtown Blues in Dowdallshill last Sunday afternoon.

Maybe it was the return to St Brigid’s Park that spooked the Drogheda men. Less than a year on after suffering a replay loss to Ardee at the same venue, but they were grateful to take the point in the finish.

Ciarán Cluskey Kelly caught Craig Doherty’s ’45 on his chest and with that, referee David J McArdle sounded his final whistle and a huge sigh of relief from the men from Newfoundwell was exhaled.

Ciarán Downey and Rob Carr had placed efforts that went wide but McArdle’s decision to cancel out Oisín McGuinness’s goal was a brave call on the judgement of his umpire. A goal at that stage with 15 minutes to play would have put the Dromiskin men in the driving seat against the flagging Blues.

Conall Smyth’s punch back in the direction of McGuinness was deemed to be out over the sideline, but the Joes faithful will continue to wonder forever more.

Despite the setback, Jack Mulligan poked his side ahead before substitute Conor Branigan came off the bench to hit what would be the game’s final score.

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The sides would draw parity 10 times over the hour and the first half was entertainingly close. Expectations on the Division 2 side were low, but Mulligan and the mercurial Alan Quigley had the championship men purring into a 0-5 to 0-2 lead.

These sides are no stranger to one another, hence the Joes lack of fear and ability to rise themselves to the occasion. However, their Achille’s heel has been the punishing lapses of concentration that the Blues feasted upon them.

They did so in the past few meetings and Rob Carr finished a slick move to pull Des Lane’s side back into the fire after an exquisite move and run from Louth’s forgotten man Dáire Nally. The learning from the youthful Joes was seen in their response.

Both sides went in level, but the Joes were not as easily shaken and nearly turned the fancied Blues over in the finish. The fact they didn’t fall shows the grip the aristocrats may have on this championship yet.

The Blues will face St Patrick’s this weekend having been drawn out first. A chance to avenge last year’s loss perhaps and realign their championship aspirations fully. Joes will wait it out to prove themselves again in a fortnight's time.

NEWTOWN BLUES: Johnny McDonnell; Evin McConnon, Ciarán Cluskey Kelly, Ian Connor; Alan Connor, John Connolly, Iollan Farrell; Ciarán Downey (0-2, 0-1 free), Dáire Nally (0-1 free); Jamie Kelly, Andy McDonnell (0-2), Emmet Murray; Brian McGuirk, Declan McNamara (0-2), Robert Carr (1-3). SUBS: Conor Branigan (0-1) for I Connor (40), Ross Nally for McNamara (53).

ST JOSEPH’S: Stephen Carron; Michael Staunton, Killian McDonnell, Aidan Kieran; Cian Sheridan, Conor Neary (0-1), David Kieran; Conall McCaul (0-3, 0-2 frees), Gabriel Bell (0-2); Jack Mulligan (0-2, 0-1 free), Craig Doherty, Oisín McGuinness (0-2); Conall Smyth (0-1), Ben Collier, Alan Quigley (0-3, 0-1 mark, 0-1 45’). Subs: Dáire Smyth for C Smyth (50), Evan McEnteggart for Sheridan (56), Oran McParland for Quigley (59).

Referee: David J McArdle (St Bride’s).