Aghadrumsee 1-11 Newtownbutler 1-09

Aghadrumsee booked their place in the final of the Junior Championship with a two-point win over Newtownbutler at Brewster Park on Friday night.

The key score of the game came five minutes from time when Eddie Courtney converted a penalty to put the Magpies two points to the good, and they were able to see it out from there to take a deserved victory.

Aghadrumsee Manager Mickey Cadden was pleased with the result and the performance from his side.

“I’m delighted; I couldn’t have asked for any more from the boys.

“They stuck to what we had worked on over the past few weeks and they got their reward for that,” he said.

Cadden admits that when Newtown went three points up early in the second half, it might have been difficult for his side, but he was delighted with the response.

“When we went three down, I thought we might struggle, but credit to the boys – they responded magnificently and then the goal came at the right time for us,” he added.

The Magpies can now focus on the final and they will have a keen interest in this weekend’s semi-final.

“We’re glad we are not involved this weekend, and we’ll just wait and see who we get, and we’ll get the heads down and work hard for the next couple of weeks,” said Cadden.

It is not the end of the road for Newtown, who will be hoping to get a second crack at Aghadrumsee. The First Fermanaghs face Brookeborough this weekend with the winner to then take on Aghadrumsee in the final.

Newtown Manager Darren Chapman was disappointed with his side’s display and is happy to have a second chance: “We were disappointing last Friday night and we got what we deserved. Aghadrumsee thoroughly deserved to win, there is no doubt about that.

“We would feel that we didn’t do ourselves justice, and we’re just glad to have an opportunity to rectify that but we are expecting a real arm wrestle against Brookeborough on Saturday and that is exactly what we are preparing for.

“It is knockout football and it is about who wants it the most,” said Chapman.

Aghadrumsee had started the better of the sides, with Eugene Kearns landing the opening two scores of the contest, although a couple of other opportunities were not taken by the Magpies.

It took Newtown 17 minutes to register their first point of the game through a Diarmuid King effort after a good catch by Sean Conlon and the First Fermanaghs very nearly had a goal soon after. Ger O’Keefe tricked his way through on goal with a couple of delightful dummies, but his shot hit the underside of the crossbar and crashed down on to the line before being cleared.

Having survived that scare, Aghadrumsee tagged on the next two points from Aidan Bannon and Darren Kearns and although Conor Courtney hit back with a point for Newtown, Eugene Kearns answered with his third of the night to make it 0-05 to 0-02 with 25 minutes on the clock.

However, the tie appeared to swing in Newtown’s favour in the period leading up to half time. Ryan Carson’s long ball in eluded everybody and ended up bouncing into the back of the net, and this was followed by a King free after James Connolly was fouled to put Newtown into a 1-03 to 0-05 advantage.

The First Fermanaghs though lost Janie McCaffrey to a Black Card as they finished the half with 14 players, and Eddie Courtney converted a free from the right to level up matters.

But a wonderful point from King with the outside of the boot meant that Newtown went in with a one-point lead at half time.

Indeed, Newtown looked as if they would push on as Connolly and O’Keefe tagged on points to put them 1-06 to 0-06 ahead early in the second half.

Aghadrumsee though refused to buckle and after Dale Crudden pushed a goal chance just past the post, Aidan Bannon and Courtney lofted over points to leave one between the sides.

Conor Courtney replied with a point for Newtown but Crudden got in again, and on this occasion his effort clipped the top of the crossbar and went over.

Another foul on Connolly resulted in King putting two in it once more, but Newtown then picked up their second Black Card of the game as James Maguire was sent to the sin bin, and from the subsequent free Courtney pointed.

Goal chances then came in quick succession at either end, with Aghadrumsee goalkeeper Gerard Grew saving from King after he was teed up by Connolly, before the Magpies swept down the other end and Damien McCarville got in, but his effort was stopped by Gary Mullaney in the Newtown goal.

However, Aghadrumsee did have the ball in the net two minutes later.

A tangle from a high ball saw referee Shane Connolly award a penalty and Courtney coolly tucked away to make it 1-10 to 1-08.

The lead was cut to three when Daniel Crudden fired over, and although King landed a free in response for Newtown, it was not enough, as Aghadrumsee saw out the game to claim the win.