Newport get timely win in relegation battle

By Pat Sheehan

Premier League

Charleville 2-3 Newport Town

Newport Town recorded a superb 3-2 win in Charleville on Sunday to pick up three vital points in their quest to steer clear of the relegation zone.

Charleville are mired in the drop zone but a victory for the Cork side would have closed the gap on Newport to just one point. However, by taking three points Newport have opened a seven-point gap on the bottom two.

It was a hard-fought win for the Tipperary side who had to do it the hard way. Gary Ward gave the home side the lead after fifteen minutes but Newport were back on terms ten minutes later when Christy Doyle pounced on a loose ball after the Charleville keeper David Riordan had blocked a shot by Cillian O’Shea.

Newport took the lead five minutes from half time when Brian O’Sullivan’s delivery was headed home by Christy O'Connor but after the restart Ward struck again, this time from the spot to level the tie.

With a draw looking the likely outcome, the visitors came up trumps with a fine goal to take full points. Daniel Ryan gathered in the middle of the park and played the ball into the path of overlapping Killian O'Malley who drilled a low shot under the keeper to seal a memorable win.

Newport Town: Seamus O'Regan; Eoin Looney; Pa Murtagh; Christy O'Connor; Drew McLean; Elliot Slattery; Luke Ryan; Darren Collins; Christy Doyle; Cillian O'Shea; Brian O'Sullivan. Subs: Daniel Ryan; Killian O'Malley; Peter O'Sullivan; Dan Egan; Jay Ryan.

Lower Leagues

In Division 1B, Newport Town ‘B’ beat Janesboro ‘B’ 3-1 thanks to scores from Jamie Kavanagh (2) and Ben O’Sullivan. In the same division, Nenagh AFC ‘B’ had no answers to a very good Aisling Annacotty ‘D’ going down 5-0.

Newport Town ‘C’ played out a 2-2 draw with Athlunkard Villa in Division 2B. JC Ahearne was the Newport scorer.

Youths

Newport Town also shared the points in a 1-1 draw with Regional United. Shane Flanagan netted the Newport goal.