Newport Town claim first top flight win
By Pat Sheehan
Premier Division
Newport Town 1-3 Ballynanty Rovers
Newport Town produced another battling performance against one of the league favourites when they took on Ballynanty Rovers in Derryleigh Park on Thursday evening.
Despite challenging their guests for most of the tie, in the end their more experienced opponents came to the fore as they ran out 3-1 winners.
Newport had a big claim for a penalty but the tackle on Jay Ryan was ruled fair and to rub salt in the wounds, Newport conceded a spot kick at the other end minutes later, converted by Conor Keane. Newport bounced back and got their reward before the break when Pa Murtagh equalised.
The second half was evenly poised until Thomas Byrnes restored Balla’s advantage and as Newport opened up in search of an equaliser, they were caught on a break which resulted in another penalty kick, this time converted by Darragh Rainsford.
Newport Town: Harry Ryan; Eoin Guilfoyle; Pa Murtagh; Christy Connors; Drew McLean; Daniel Ryan; Dan Egan; Darren Collins; Joe Shanahan; Brian O'Sullivan; Jay Ryan, Subs Jamie Kavanagh; Conor Brett; Christy Doyle; Luke Ryan
Newport Town 3-2 Coonagh United
Newport Town recorded their first ever Premier League win when they edged out Coonagh United on Sunday morning in Newport.
Coonagh took the lead through Andrew Leydon, but Jay Ryan had the sides level by the 20th minute.
Rory O'Neill restored Coonagh’s advantage but on the hour mark, a foul on Jay Ryan saw the striker dust himself down to convert the resulting spot kick. With the game evenly poised on 75 minutes, Conor Brett delivered a corner kick into the Coonagh area and Christy Connors headed in to get Newport’s season up and running.
Newport Town: Seamus O'Regan; Eoin Guilfoyle; Pa Murtagh; Christy Connors; Drew McLean; Darren Collins; Daniel Ryan; Cillian O'Shea; Jay Ryan; Brian O'Sullivan; Conor Brett, Subs: Christy Doyle; Joe Shanahan; Jamie Kavanagh; Luke Ryan; Dan Egan
Regional United 1-0 Nenagh AFC
Nenagh AFC’s poor start to the 2023/24 campaign continued on Sunday when they fell by the narrowest margin to joint league leaders Regional United.
The Munster Junior Cup champions had to pull out all the stops against a hard-working Nenagh XI. Filip Mostowy scored the only goal of the game to keep the momentum going for Sean Russell’s men.
Nenagh AFC: Aaron Savage; Eoin Coffey; Colm Hayden; Kieran Barr; Conor McCormack; Ryan Gilmartin; Eamon White; Adam Ryan; Kieran O'Brien; Cillian Scully; Aidan White, Subs: Diarmuid Fitzpatrick; David Molloy; Jonathan Lawlor
DIVISION 1B
Nenagh AFC ‘B’ are two wins from two following their 1-0 win over Caherdavin on Sunday. Adam Guilfoyle was the hero with the only goal of the game.
Newport Town ‘B’ shared four goals and the points on their trip to Glenview Rovers with Conor Brett and Darragh Meany netting for the Tipperary side.
Youths
In the Youth League Division 1, newcomers Lough Derg put up a fine showing against top dogs, Aisling Annacotty before going down 2-0.
They had better luck on Saturday with an impressive 4-1 win over Murroe courtesy of William Qaide Bennett (2), Donal Houlihan and Paddy Dowling.
Their Under 17’s had better luck posting an impressive 4-2 win over Fairview Rangers. Oisin Rowan (2), John Kerr (2) and Paddy Dowling scored for Lough Derg.
On Sunday, Liam O'Shaughnessy scored but they fell 3-1 to Aisling Annacotty.
Nenagh AFC and Shelbourne Youths played out a highly entertaining game in Shelbourne Park that saw the Tipperary side run out 6-3 winners with goals from Mark Manley (2), Dan Zamotsnyy (2), Conor Gleeson, and David Flynn.
Defeat was Nenagh’s lot on Saturday when they fell 3-1 to Charleville. Dan Zamotsnyy was on the mark for Nenagh.
Brehan O'Donnell and Brian Tracey netted for Nenagh 17’s but they went down 3-2 to Pike Rovers.
Newport’s Under 17’s defeated Geraldines by five goals from Sean Wrynn (3), Dara McGrath and Patrick O'Shea. David O'Brien and Adam Power scored for the Youth side, but they went down by the odd goal in five to Mungret Regional.