Division 1 FL: Slick Newcestown ease past Douglas

Douglas: 0-10 (0-2-6) 

Newcestown: 1-12 (1-1-10) 

A slick and controlled showing from Newcestown saw them prove too strong for an off-colour Douglas side in their McCarthy Insurance Group Division 1 Football League clash at Douglas on Thursday evening.

The Carbery outfit led from pillar to post in what was an impressive performance. They were only a point ahead at half-time, but if it wasn’t for wayward shooting, the margin at the break — and at the finish — would have been greater.

They won’t be overly concerned about the misses either, with eight different scorers contributing to a workmanlike display. Jim O’Sullivan’s team now move on to six points from just five games.

Douglas, by contrast, never showed the same fight or fluency that underpinned their excellent away win over Knocknagree last time out. They were far too reliant on Cork U20 footballer Seán Coakley, who finished with 0-8. Their only other scorer was substitute Jack Cunningham.

They remain bottom on two points from six matches. 

Newcestown were totally dominant in the early exchanges, landing the first four points while also kicking four wides. Luke Meade, Seamus O’Sullivan, Niall Murray and Carthach Keane supplied the scores.

Douglas finally got going when Coakley pointed after nine minutes, followed a minute later by a free from the same player. The sides traded points as Newcestown led 0-5 to 0-3 after 16 minutes.

Newcestown’s wides continued to mount — they reached 10 by the 24th minute — but still held a two-point cushion. Seán O’Donovan pushed them three clear seconds after Keane had a goal chance.

A Coakley two-point free left Douglas 0-6 to 0-5 behind three minutes before the interval, and that’s how it remained at half-time.

Newcestown continued to dictate matters on the restart. Meade pointed two minutes into the second half before a touch of class from Coakley again left the bare minimum between the teams.

A crucial moment arrived after 39 minutes when Humphrey Canty and Keane combined to set up Eoghan Collins, who palmed the ball to the Douglas net for a 1-7 to 0-6 lead. Richard O’Sullivan then slotted a two-pointer to push his side six clear.

Newcestown landed two of the next three points to move 1-11 to 0-7 ahead after 49 minutes. Seamus O’Sullivan then bisected the posts to further buttress the advantage as a Douglas comeback never looked likely.

Cunningham kicked his second point after being introduced, but time was against the home side. 

They trailed 1-12 to 0-8 with three minutes remaining. Coakley did add a brilliant two-point free from a difficult angle, but it was no more than a consolation for the city side.

Scorers for Douglas: S Coakley 0-8 (2 2pt f, 0-2 f), J Cunningham 0-2.

Newcestown: R O’Sullivan (1 2pt), L Meade 0-3 each, E Collins 1-0, S O’Sullivan 0-2, Colm O’Donovan, N Murray, S O’Donovan, C Keane 0-1 each.

DOUGLAS: A Cotter; C Kenny, C Mac Pháidín, D O’Callaghan; S Aherne, N Walsh, C Kingston; A Cantwell, K Shanahan; N Hartnett, L Dwan-Fogarty, H Quilligan; S Coakley, S O’Leary, C Russell.

Subs: J Cunningham for C Russell, J Mouret for C Kingston, D Mac Pháidín for N Hartnett, B Powter for H Quilligan, A Young for K Shanahan, A O’Hare for N Walsh.

NEWCESTOWN: E McSweeney; J Kelleher, Colm O’Donovan, N Murray; R O’Sullivan, M McSweeney, C Dinneen; S O’Donovan, E Collins; D McAree, L Meade, J Kenneally; S O’Sullivan, C Keane, H Canty.

Subs: Ciarán O’Donovan for H Canty, F Kenneally for D McAree, P Collins for L Meade, E Kenneally for C Keane, J Burrows for N Murray.

Referee: James Regan (Lough Rovers).