Blues book place in last four after narrow win

A second half goal from Colm Judge ultimately proved to be the winning of this tight and closely fought quarter final, which saw the Newtown Blues relieved to be the first side through to the Senior Championship semi-finals.

John Kermode’s side were pushed all the way by a persistent Roche Emmets, who took their fancied opponents all the way, with Judge’s quality intervention necessary for the Blues to prevail, in a game where the sides were level on nine occasions.

Judge’s goal came in the 37^th minute, putting the Blues three points ahead at 1-7 to 0-7, and you could have been forgiven for thinking that the Blues would kick on and have plenty to spare at the finish.

However, back came Roche who outscored their opponents in the final 20 minutes, with county man Peter Lynch outstanding in taking the game to the opposition, supported by hardworking midfield colleague David Quigley who simply did not stop all game, while sub Dan O’Connell helped his side regain possession on several occasions with some key turnovers,

In fact, the Newtown Blues found it difficult to break down this stubborn and packed Roche Emmets’ defence early doors, with both sides neck and neck in a game which felt like a game of tennis, with a big score from one team, duly met with a strong response at the other end.

Mark Byrne who impressed throughout put Roche ahead inside 4 minutes, which was quickly cancelled out by Louth’s Ciaran Downey at the other end following good work by Conor Branigan.

As mentioned, the Blues saw several attacks turned over by a packed Roche Emmets defence. After Peter Lynch broke down one such attack, he found Mark Byrne who was one v one with his marker close to the clubhouse goals. Byrne elected to take his point, and Roche were back in front.

The Blues continued to find it difficult to break Roche down, but Ciaran Downey (f), and a Jamie Kelly strike did put the Drogheda side ahead at 0-3 to 0-2 after 12 minutes.

Both sides continued to trade scores in this half, with Andy McDonnell who finished with 28 possessions, setting up Conor Branigan for a lead score for the Blues, before patient build up from Roche involving Gerry Browne and Daire Reilly, saw Shane Byrne make clever use of his side’s first half wind advantage to equalise again from range.

Those in attendance in Darver were then treated to two scores of the highest quality at either end. Firstly, Jamie Kelly put the Blues back ahead approaching the 20^th minute with a fine strike from distance.

Moments later, David Quigley took the ball on the run, before firing over with the outside of his right boot from long range to leave it at 0-5 apiece with 8 minutes left until the break.

Roche took the lead via a Barry O’Hare free, before Ciaran Cluskey-Kelly set up Andy McDonnell to leave the sides deadlocked at the break, ending a half where Roche would probably rue not making the most of that wind advantage.

Second Half:

The second half picked up where the first had left off, with both sides trading scores. Barry O’Hare had put Roche back ahead from a free, after referee Jonathon Conlon had previously given an advantage to Roche, which saw Blues keeper Ronan Browne deny Mark Byrne from close range. The Blues were penalised for a foul on Ryan Rice Martin in the build-up, with O’Hare converting the resultant free.

A wonderful strike from the evergreen Andy McDonnell levelled things up once again at 0-7 each. The same player was soon involved in the key moment of the game, when his kick pass was collected by Jamie Kelly, who found Colm Judge who evaded Roche keeper Evin Quigley, before calmly slotting to the net to give his side a 1-7 to 0-7 lead 7 minutes after the restart.

Those that expected the Blues to take over and kick on from that major were mistaken, as Roche Emmets fought back to restore parity by the end of the third quarter, thanks to scores from DD Reilly, Mark Byrne and Barry O’Hare from play.

Key to this revival, was the introduction of sub Dan O’Connell, who also had a helping hand in one or two of these scores following his introduction.

The Blues almost snuck in for another goal following a turnover, which saw Ciaran Downey pass across the square to Jamie Kelly, who slipped the crucial moment, and his pass was cut out by Evin Quigley.

Conor Brannigan did put the Blues ahead again with 10 minutes left, in a game which was becoming harder to call by the minute.

The Blues needed a cool head, and Ciaran Downey provided that with a free from the left hand side to put the Blues back ahead, after the excellent Peter Lynch had levelled things up from play for Roche.

On the break, Conor Mac Críosta set up Colm Judge who wisely fist passed the ball over the bar to give the Blues a two point buffer in added time.

The Blues were slightly more economical in front of the posts with 1-10 from 19 shots, compared with Roche’s 0-12 from 22.

Barry O’Hare did close the gap with a free, but despite throwing the kitchen sink at their opponents, Roche could not find an equaliser which they arguably deserved in this battling display, as the Blues secured their place in the semi-finals.

Newtown Blues: Ronan Browne; John Connolly, Ian Connor, Alan Connor; Fergal Donohoe, Ciaran Cluskey-Kelly, Jamie Kelly (0-2); Brian Kermode, Ryan Kelly; Conor Mac Criosta, Conor Moore, Conor Branigan (0-2); Ciaran Downey 0-3) (2f), Andy McDonnell (0-2), Colm Judge (1-1).

Subs: Iollan Farrell for Donohoe (37), Ross Nally for Kelly (37), Jack Healy for Moore (51), Aidan O’Brien for Connolly (54).

Roche Emmets: Evin Quigley; Sean Connolly, Callum Grant, Dermot Carthy; James McDonnell, Aidan Grant, Gerry Browne; Peter Lynch (0-1), David Quigley (0-1); Ryan Rice Martin, Shane Byrne (0-1), Mark Byrne (0-3); Daire Reilly, Barry O’Hare (0-5) (4f), DD Reilly (0-1).

Subs: Adam McKay for Callum Grant (14), Dan O’Connell for Martin (40), Liam Carthy for David Quigley (53).

Referee: Jonathan Conlon (O’Connells).