Newtownbutler back at the summit of ladies' football

Goals and an extra edge of experience told the story of a keenly contested Ladies’ Senior Football Championship final at Brewster Park on Sunday as Newtownbutler regained the title they lost to Kinawley last year.
Indeed, as the first half progressed it looked as if the Brian Borus would be the team again this year as they led 0-09 to 1-02 approaching half time and had enjoyed the lion’s share of possession.
But a three goal blast either side of half time and a really strong second half display from the First Fermanaghs meant that they deservedly won the title by a final score line of 4-06 to 1-11.
It was an entertaining first half with Kinawley enjoying the majority of possession but Newtownbutler’s pace and clinical goal finishing kept them in the game.
Alana Maher opened the scoring for Kinawley with a good point from play before Danielle Maguire doubled the lead with a point from a free.
Kinawley ladies made it 0-03 to 0-00 soon after after another flowing move as Roisin O’Reilly and Danielle Maguire combined to set up Claire Maguire who slotted over with her right foot.
Noelle Connolly got Newtown on the scoresheet after good work from Mollie McGloin and Erin Cadden put her through and she chipped the ball over the advancing keeper and the bar.
Claire Maguire knocked over another excellent right footed point for Kinawley before the pace and incision of the Newtownbutler attack was once again to the fore as Shannen Courtney and Connolly broke at pace and played in the pacy Maura McDonald who fired the ball to the roof of the net to level the game at 0-04 to 1-01 after 14 minutes.
Claire Maguire then knocked over her third point of the game which was followed by a Roisin O’Reilly point after a quickly taken free by Danielle Maguire as Kinawley edged ahead again.
Erin Cadden pulled a point back for Newtown as she powered through the middle of the Kinawley defence but the Brian Borus soon reasserted.
Danielle Maguire with two frees and a Kayleigh Magee point gave them a 0-09 to 1-02 lead as the break approached.
However, Newtown got right back into the game as McDonald plundered her second goal of the game as she raced onto a pass from Connolly and again finished superbly to make it 0-09 to 2-02 at the interval.
The second half started in excellent fashion as Sophie O’Connor in the Newtown nets made a great save from Kayleigh Maguire before Newtown went up the other end and netted their third goal of the game.
Shannen Courtney finished well into the roof of the net as again the Newtown pace and power created the gaps for Courtney to exploit.
Danielle Maguire pulled a point back for the Brian Borus but when McDonald completed her hat-trick soon after the game had shifted decisively in favour of Newtown.
Goal scorer Courtney turned provider this time with an adept ball over the top for the in-rushing McDonald who made no mistake to fire home and leave it 4-02 to 0-10 to Newtown.
Newtownbutler now got on top all over the field and the dangerous Kinawley forwards of the first half such as the Maguires and Roisin O’Reilly struggled to find the space to make an impact.
McDonald pointed after being set up by substitute Kyla McManus before Claire Maguire and Erin Cadden exchanged points to leave it 4-04 to 0-11 as the game entered the final 10 minutes.
Maguire did raise some hope when her free dropped into the net to reduce the gap to two points but Newtown were not going to relinquish their lead and finished the stronger with McManus lofting over and hat-trick hero McDonald fittingly added the final point of the game to make it 4-06 to 1-11 to Newtown at the final whistle.