Newport face uphill battle to avoid the drop

Limerick District League Review

By Pat Sheehan

Premier League

Nenagh AFC 3-2 Janesboro

In midweek action there was one Premier League tie with Nenagh AFC staging a remarkable recovery to come from two goals down with seven minutes remaining to take the points at home to Janesboro.

Two goals from Shane Clarke had Boro well in control before Mike O’Gorman reduced the deficit. Dylan Morrison equalised and in the final minutes an own goal gave Nenagh the spoils.

Nenagh AFC: Adam Wallace; Colm Hayden; Saeed Ryan; Kieran Barr; Bryan McGee; Mike O'Gorman; Adam Ryan; Conor McCormack; Dan O'Meara; Nathan Kelly; Dylan Morrison. Subs: Coilin Doris; Daniel Connolly; Nichita Caaciuc.

Hyde Rangers 4-2 Newport Town

Newport Town are tied in a survival fight with Geraldines in the Premier League but their hopes took a turn for the worst on Sunday.

While ‘Dines were picking up full points at Janesboro, Newport lost again which sees them with an uphill battle to claw their way to safety.

Alex Keating (2), Conor Madden and Dylan Bourke were on target for Hyde while Brian O'Sullivan struck two penalty kicks for a disappointed Newport side.

Newport Town: Seamus O'Regan; Eoin Looney; Pa Murtagh; Drew McLean; Elliot Slattery; Peter O'Sullivan; Conor Brett; Aaron Coleman; Christy Doyle; Jamie Kavanagh; Brian O'Sullivan. Subs: Ciaran Carey; Darren Collins; Jimmy Fyffe; David Ryan

Lower Leagues

In the Division 1B midweek, Glenview Rovers edged out Newport Town ‘B’ 2-1. Frank Lang scored twice for the winners. Keith Mawdsley replied for Newport.

At the weekend, Mawdsley was on the mark again in a 1-1 draw with Mungret Regional in the cup before emerging winners in the penalty shoot-out.

In Division 2B, Lough Derg ground out a 3-0 win on sunny Tuesday evening in Clarisford against a dogged Murroe side.

Liam O'Shaughnessy broke the deadlock after twenty minutes. Dergs tempo and ball control was better in the second half and Cian McAuley set up Jacub Slaga for 2-0 on 55 minutes. Derg added a third on seventy minutes with O'Shaughnessy being played in by Cian O'Donohue.

They followed it up with another impressive 5-0 win over Athlunkard Villa on Saturday evening with the goals coming from Daniel Fogarty (3), Cian McAuley and Jay Collins.

In Division 3B on Thursday, Newport Town ‘B’ played out a 1-1 draw with Lough Derg ‘B’ in Derryleigh Park.

The visitors went ahead on sixteen minutes when Noel McLeish finished well from a corner.

In the second half, Derg went closest; Thiago Cruster Caldos hit two screamers that were brilliantly saved by the Newport keeper. Sean Fahy too went close but hit the crossbar. Newport were dangerous on the break though and on 72 minutes a fast breakout was finished to level.

Elsewhere, Nenagh AFC ‘C’ were defeated 7-1 by title chasing Prospect Priory ‘B’.

In Division 3A on Sunday, a brace of goals from Liam Hogan gave Nenagh AFC ‘C’ 2-0 win over Newtown Rangers ‘B’ while Newport ‘C’ hit Patrickswell ‘B’ for three without reply courtesy of Ciaran Darcy, Johnny Ryan and Eoin McLoughlin.

In the Youth Premier League, Nenagh AFC held Holycross scoreless while Lough Derg and Mungret Regional also tied 3-3. Liam O'Shaughnessy (2) and Matt Ryan scored for the Tipperary side.