Newport Town secure historic promotion to Premier League
By Pat Sheehan
Premier ‘A’ League
Congratulations are in order to Newport AFC who will ply their trade in the Premier League next season, for the first time in their history.
Their goal was achieved courtesy of a 2-0 win over Athlunkard Villa last Thursday. Christy Doyle scored both goals.
Geraldines were also promoted and the race for the title continues with ‘Dines holding a one-point lead with two games remaining.
Premier League
Nenagh AFC 0-5 Regional United
With little to play for, Nenagh met a Regional United side, who by contrast have a Munster Junior Cup final in a couple of weeks, and not surprisingly the home side ran out comfortable winners.
Brian O'Connor, Willie Griffin, Eoin Duff, Andrew Cowpar and Ruairi Casserly scored for the winners.
Nenagh AFC: Cillian Fitzpatrick, Eoin Coffey, Lee Mowat, Bryan McGee, Mark McKenna, Colm Hayden, Eamonn White, Casey Finn, Adam Ryan, Aidan White, Diarmuid Fitzpatrick.
Nenagh AFC ‘C’, with just two league wins to date, were given little hope when drawn against joint leaders Geraldines in the Division 3B Cup.
However, a determined display by the Tipperary side saw them cause the shock of the day by holing the Dines at 2-2 before emerging winners after a penalty shoot-out.
Liam Hannon and Emmanuel Massina were on target for Nenagh.
Youths Division 2 Cup Final
Newport Town 1-0 Regional United
Newport Town entered the Youth Division Two Cup final as clear favourites after scoring a total of 20 goals in their previous three encounters against Regional United.
However, Regional showed great determination and grit, making it a much closer match. In the end, Newport managed to secure the win with a last-minute goal, although they wasted several opportunities to score earlier in the game despite dominating possession.
Newport's Conor Brett came close to scoring early on with a well-struck free-kick that missed the target by a narrow margin. The Regional goal was under constant threat, but Newport struggled to capitalize on their dominance, with several balls across the face of the goal unconverted.
Just before half time, Newport's top scorer Jamie Kavanagh nearly broke the deadlock with a shot that went wide of the far post. In the second half, Newport continued to apply pressure, but Regional's defence held up well, limiting the opposition to speculative efforts.
Kavanagh came close again, firing just over the crossbar after connecting with Aaron Coleman's cross. Brett also had another attempt that was off-target. With extra time looking likely, Sean Chitedze's shot from outside the box hit the post and went in, securing the win for Newport.
While you had to feel sympathy for Regional, few would deny that Newport were worthy winners.
Newport Town: K Hogan, Darragh Meaney, Cathal Lenihan, Chris Egan, Joe Shanahan, David O'Brien, Ciaran Carey, Aaron Coleman, Conor Brett, Sean Chitedze, Jamie Kavanagh. Subs: Mike Carey, Ryan Madden, Alex O'Neill, Mike Kennedy, Eoghan Flynn, Adam Power, Adam O'Connor.