Goals galore as Newcastle West get back to winning ways

NEWCASTLE West scratched off their first win in Group 1 of the Irish Wire Products Senior Football Championship after a comprehensive 4-12 to 1-11 over neighbours St Kieran’s in another sun-soaked Friday evening in Athea.

It was a bizarre opening to the contest as Newcastle West’s first goal arrived via a calamitous own goal from St Kieran’s net minder Con Enright.

Tentative periods of possession from both sides followed before a ridiculous outside the boot two point-effort from Dylan Moloney provided an ideal settling score for St Kieran’s after nine minutes.

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A quick one-two from a set play put Eoin Hurley in space to score before Lee Woulfe increased Newcastle West’s lead to three after 12 minutes.

Kevin Meade then sped in along the end line to fist his effort over before Alan Daly dropped a plum kick pass over a Newcastle West defender and into the inviting hands of John Hayes who was left with only Mike Quilligan to beat.

Hayes dispatched his effort to the bottom left corner to put his side ahead for the first time. Brian Foley then drifted across the centre to respond for the Magpies before Alan Daly reestablished the St Kieran’s lead seconds later.

However, the response was emphatic from the Magpies. Iain Corbett disregarded the pressure of two opposing defenders as he strode across the 21 metre line before dispatching a venomous shot past Enright to put his side back in control.

Joe Reidy then swiveled onto his right to fire over an excellent two point effort before Mike McMahon ensured Newcastle West would take a 2-4 to 1-6 half time advantage.

An intricate network of passes resulted in an Alan Daly score to open the half before the powerful runs of Bryan Nix and Lee Woulfe yielded scores for Newcastle West either side of a curling right footed effort from Jack O’Sullivan.

Nix fisted another effort between the posts before Hurley wriggled free on the arc and launched a monster effort over.

A slick attack from a turnover ended with Niall McAuliffe extending the lead to five points after 46 minutes of action.

John Hayes surged through the middle to provide a much needed score for St Kieran’s but Woulfe and Hurley quickly cancelled the impact of that score.

A wandering shot from Aaron Neville was dropped by Enright which allowed Sean Murphy to snatch a third goal for Newcastle West which saw them exert further control.

Sean Ryan floated over what was only a consolation two point effort for Kieran’s before a hopeful ball from substitute Thomas Quilligan found its way into the arms of Murphy who smashed home from close range to put a healthy cushion on the scoreboard at full time.

Scorers - Newcastle West: Sean Murphy 2-0, Eoin Hurley 0-4, Iain Corbett 1-0, Con Enright 1-0(og), Lee Woulfe 0-3, Bryan Nix 0-2, Niall McAulliffe, Brian Foley, Mike McMahon 0-1 each; St Kieran’s: John Hayes 1-1, Dylan Moloney, Sean Ryan, Joe Reidy, Alan Daly 0-2 each, Jack O’Sullivan, Kevin Meade 0-1 each.

Newcastle West: Michael Quilligan; Brian O’Sullivan, Darren O’Doherty, Brian O’Doherty; Con Hayes, Aaron Neville, Mike Cremin; Iain Corbett, Lee Woulfe; Sean Murphy, Eoin Hurley, Brian Foley; Bryan Nix, Mike McMahon, Niall McAuliffe; Subs: Stephen Brosnan for B O’Sullivan (29 mins), Thomas Quilligan for Nix (46 mins), Shane Stack for Foley (54 mins).

St Kieran’s: Con Enright; Mossie Shine, Aaron Heffernan, Sean Ryan; Anthony Mullins, Brendan McCarthy, Mikey Long; Darragh Treacy, John Hayes; Joe Reidy; Conor McMahon, Jack O’Sullivan; Kevin Meade, Dylan Moloney, Alan Daly; Subs: Cormac Mann for Reidy (32 mins), Sean Long for Heffernan (36 mins), Oisin Ryan for Long (47 mins), Adam Lacey for McMahon (54 mins).

Referee: Kieran Guina (Feohanagh-Castlemahon)