Paul’s cracker ends Harps’ reign as champs

Editorial Department • Published 12 Aug 2010 16:00 0 Comments

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Derrygonnelly’s Declan Cassidy pumps the ball forward as man of the match Colum Monahan moves in to block.<<

Newtownbutler 1-09; Derrygonnelly 1-08;

Derrygonnelly Harps’ defence of the New York Cup ended at the first hurdle on Saturday night as lost out to a late Paul Johnston injury time point.

The game only came to life in the final quarter with Newtown looking to have secured their passage into the last eight after James Connolly’s goal had put them into a four point lead, 1-08 to 0-07.

And when Derrygonnelly were then reduced to 14 men after Stephen Jones picked up a second yellow card it looked all over for the Harps. There was though to be late drama as Barry McGrath clipped over a point and as the game entered injury time Derrygonnelly were then awarded a penalty.

Substitute Kevin McGrath stroked home the penalty to leave a replay on the cards but Newtown were to go on and clinch the win as captain Paul Johnston launched over a wonderful long range point two minutes into injury time to secure the victory.

It was a different story early in the game however as Derrygonnelly dominated proceedings. Ryan Jones was excellent at midfield during the first half although the Harps should have been further ahead than the one point lead they brought in at the break following a string of missed opportunities.

Newtown opened the scoring with a point from James Connolly but Derrygonnelly replied to this with four points in a row as they began to stamp their authority on the game.

Midfielder Stephen Burns registered the first point to level the game and this was followed by two successful frees from Barry McGrath. When full forward Declan Meehan punished a mistake by Brendan McBrien to make it 0-04 to 0-01 it seemed as if Derrygonnelly were going to push on.

However, that was not to be the case as Newtown began to come more into the contest. Their deployment of Colum Monahan as a sweeper was to work effectively for them while they also started to pick up more ball around midfield.

In a five minute period Monahan tagged on three points for the First Fermanaghs, two from frees and one from play, to suddenly tie the game at 0-04 apiece although Derrygonnelly had the last say of the half as McGrath fired over an excellent point from an acute angle on the right to leave it 0-05 to 0-04 at the break.

Derrygonnelly came out for the second half without key forward Paul Ward who sustained an injury in the first half and Newtown started the second half well. From the throw-up, they worked the ball to Brendan McBrien who flung over the levelling score and when Monahan then drilled over a free from a tight angle after Connolly was fouled it put Newtown in front for the first time in the game.

Derrygonnelly though responded well to this and McGrath knocked over a free before Stephen Burns got forward to fire over as Derrygonnelly regained the lead.

It was Newtown though who were looking the more lively of the two sides with Ryan O’Keefe and Frank Mulligan beginning to make their mark on the encounter.

O’Keefe knocked over a wonderful point from the left to make it 0-07 apiece and Monahan added his fifth point of the tie from a free to egde Newtown back in front.

What looked to be the decisive score of the game arrived in the 51st minute as Connolly bagged his side’s goal. Frank Mulligan found Jarlath Jackman and he played the ball back across for Connolly to flick into the corner of the net beyond Harps goalkeeper Dermot Feely.

And Derrygonnelly’s hopes looked all but finished when Stephen Jones was given his marching orders by referee Martin Higgins following a second yellow card in quick succession.

However, Sean Flanagan’s side continued to battle and McGrath cut the gap back to the goal from a free, 1-08 to 0-08.

From the resultant kickout, Ryan Jones claimed possession and he drove through the heart of the Newtown defence before laying off to substitute Garvan McGinley. His shot at goal was met with a footblock leaving Higgins no option but to award the penalty and Kevin McGrath converted to level up proceedings again.

There was to be one final twist though as Newtown pushed forward. Ryan Carson picked out Connolly with a fine ball and he in turn laid it off to Johnston who drove over a huge point from distance to seal a meeting with Devenish in the quarter-finals.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 12 Aug 10

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