Division 1 FL: Newcestown reel Douglas in to claim share of spoils 

Newcestown: 0-11 (0-1-9) 

Douglas: 1-8 (1-1-6) 

Newcestown recovered from six points down to share the spoils with Douglas in the McCarthy Insurance Group Division 1 Football League at Newcestown on Sunday morning.

This was an important game with both sides in mid-table prior to throw-in with four points from four games. In the end, nothing separated the teams.

The wind had a major bearing on this encounter in what was a game of two halves.

Douglas led by five points at the break and extended it to six points early in the second half, but Newcestown rallied with the accuracy of Eddie Kenneally proving important. It was his two-pointer from a free late on that tied the game.

Douglas were too reliant on Conor Russell, with the forward scoring all but one of their points. 

After a fairly pedestrian start from both teams, the first score arrived after seven minutes and it did look like a decisive one for the majority of the contest.

Douglas, aided by a gale of a wind in the first half, scored a fortuitous goal when Conor Kingston’s long delivery from the halfway line evaded everyone and went into the net.

In a sloppy first half from both sides, a pair of Russell points gave the city side a five-point lead before Colm O’Donovan got Newcestown’s first score after 15 minutes with a point following a pass by his younger brother Ciarán.

Jack Meade pointed to cut the gap down to three points but a Russell free steadied Douglas, 1-3 to 0-2.

Meade could have got a goal for Newcestown after 19 minutes but his shot was saved by Douglas goalkeeper Andrew Cotter as the netminder spread himself well.

An Eddie Kenneally free kept Newcestown in touch but a Russell two-pointer from a free gave Douglas a 1-5 to 0-3 half-time lead.

Newcestown were now aided by the strong wind advantage for the new half, but their opposition were doing the basics better at this juncture in tough weather conditions.

Eddie Kenneally did kick a free on the resumption, but Russell (free) and a David Buckley effort gave Douglas their biggest lead of the game, 1-7 to 0-4 after 36 minutes. They were unable to push on.

The second half was a considerable improvement on the opening 30 minutes as Newcestown stayed in touch with points from Micheál McSweeney and another Eddie Kenneally free.

Douglas could have put the game to bed with 16 minutes remaining, but centre-back James Burke was unable to find the net from close range.

Newcestown are never easily beaten, three unanswered points left just a point in it with 10 minutes remaining, 1-7 to 0-9.

A Russell free looked like a big score for Douglas, but there would be one more score and it was a crucial one when that man Eddie Kenneally slotted over a two-pointer from a free with three minutes remaining to draw Newcestown level.

Both sides did press for the winner, but nothing came to fruition.

Scorers for Newcestown: E Kenneally 0-6 (0-4 f, 1 2pt f), J Meade 0-2, T Twomey, Colm O’Donovan, M McSweeney 0-1 each.

Douglas: C Russell 0-7 (0-3 f, 1 2pt f), C Kingston 1-0, D Buckley 0-1.

NEWCESTOWN: D Twomey; N Murray, J Kelleher, P Kelly; C Dinneen, M McSweeney, Colm O’Donovan; E Collins, J Kenneally; O Walsh, T Twomey, D McAree; J Meade, E Kenneally, Ciarán O’Donovan.

Subs: C O’Sullivan for P Kelly (47), C Hurley for Ciarán O’Donovan (53), J Burrows for N Murray (56).

DOUGLAS: A Cotter; N Lynch, N Walsh, J O’Callaghan-Maher; C Kingston, J Burke, L Fogarty; D Buckley, K Shanahan; B Powter, S Aherne, A Cantwell; S O’Leary, C Russell, H Quilligan.

Subs: E Nash for D Buckley (48, inj), D O’Callaghan for C Kingston (57), A O’Hare for H Quilligan (60).

Referee: Pat O’Leary (Kilmurry).