Newtownstewart..........0-8
EmyvAle..........................0-9
By BARRY O'DONNELL
NEWTOWNSTEWART'S first venture onto the Ulster stage ended in bitter disappointment on Saturday afternoon at Healy Park as they bowed out of the Junior series by the bare minimum to Monaghan visitors Emyvale.
After a fairly shapeless and ragged showing in the first period, when they were very much second best to their physically imposing Farney opponents, St Eugene's produced a fiery and energetic second half performance to battle back into proceedings.
However, they fell to a last gasp sucker punch as Emyvale sub Patrick McCarron fisted the winning point deep into injury time to send the Monaghan side through to the provincial semi-finals.
It was a salutary lesson for the North Tyrone boys to absorb and while they clearly looked rusty following a six week break after their County title triumph, a Newtown side producing the same level of performances displayed earlier in the Championship, would probably have prevailed.
Despite opening the scoring within 20 seconds as Damian Patton burst up the middle to fire over, Newtown played second fiddle to Emyvale for the rest of the first half. Pascal McConnell was much the busier of the two keepers and reacted well to smoother Patrick McKenna's attempt at goal in the fifth minute after St Eugene's failed to clear Daniel McMahon's free.
Brendan Boyle's well-struck '45' doubled Newtownstewart's advantage but as the opening spell unfolded their attacking thrusts became more and more sporadic. Martin McAree's 30m free finally got Emyvale off the mark in the 14th minute and the lively McMahon restored parity soon after with a tidy finish on his left foot.
The same player then exploited some dithering in the Tyrone champions defence to hoist over and give the away team their first lead of the afternoon. Diligent defensive play by the likes of Jude Lynch and Damian Duffy helped keep Newtown in contention and they drew level as Patton slipped over a 30m free.
The impressive Monaghan outfit posed a potential goal threat, the best chance falling to full-forward Robbie McHugh but under pressure from Brian McMenamin he drilled the ball wide of the left hand post. Indeed McAree's injury time converted free, which handed Emyvale a 0-4 to 0-3 interval lead, represented scant justice for their overall dominance.
Newtown's play was still somewhat laboured on the resumption, and it was Emyvale who continued to show the greater pace and penetration, McHugh easing them two ahead with a quality finish after good work by John Treanor.
deficit
Even when Brendan Boyle advanced to bang over a fine point there was no initial sign of a revival from the St Eugene's. Eye-catching scores from Daniel McMahon and Gavin McKernan put the seal on some positive, purposeful approach by the Farney men and left Newtownstewart facing a three point deficit, 0-7 to 0-4, approaching the three quarter mark.
Damian Patton so nearly cancelled out the deficit, after being teed up by sub Dean Arnold, but his rasping drive was tipped over the crossbar by keeper Gerard McCaffery. McAree responded with an excellent point at the other end for Emyvale but any belief they had that Newtown were going to wilt was badly misplaced.
The Red Hand junior kingpins produced a storming finale, driven on by the likes of Declan McConnell, Boyle and team captain Kevin Gallagher.
Coolly taken points by subs Rory Devine and Dean Arnold brought Newtown right back into contention before Boyle hoisted a neat leveller with five minutes remaining.
Crucially other good opportunities were spurned by St Eugene's in the closing stages and they were made to pay the penalty when Emyvale exploited some poor defending and McCarron surged through unchecked to fist over the winner.
The Scorers...
Newtownstewart:
Emyvale:
The Teams...
Newtownstewart: Pascal McConnell, Brian McMenamin, Paul Houston, Jude Lynch, Mark McBrearty, Damian Duffy, James McMenamin, Kevin Gallagher, Brendan Boyle, Damian Patton, Turlough McNamee, Tyler Stockton, Declan McConnell, Michael McConomy. Subs used: Rory Devine for D Donnelly (35 mins), Patrick Gallagher for J McMenamin (35), Dean Arnold for T Stockton (40), Martin O'Brien for M McConomy (47), Damien Coyle for T McNamee (61).
Emyvale: Gerard McCaffery, Ciaran Connolly, Shane McKenna, Sean McMeel, Brendan Askin, John Flannery, Jonathan Morrough, Brendan McKenna, Patrick J McKenna, Gavin McKernan, Martin McAree, Darren McKernan, Daniel McMahon, Robbie McHugh, Brendan O'Brien. Subs used: John T Treanor for D McKernan (21 mins), Seamus Downey for C Connolly (H-time), Patrick McCarron for P McKenna (54), Gregory Devlin for G McKernan (58).
Referee: Aidan McAlynn (Derry)
