Murphy snatches late draw from Newtownshandrum
WHEN Newtown banged in two goals in the first two minutes by James Bowles and Cathal Naughton one felt they were going to have an easy win. However, Erins Own picked up their game considerably and Eoghan Murphy had two points while Michael Bowles pointed for the Avondhu side.
In the sixth minute Ben O'Connor with a point cut the lead to two goals 2-2 to 0-2. Eoghan Murphy followed with another free following a foul on Colm Coakley. Good work by Maurice O'Carroll and Colm Coakley led to a great save by Willie Biggane with the rebound going out to Brian Clifford who sent over.
Erins defence came very much into the game and closed down on the Newtown attack. At the end of the first quarter Eoghan Murphy kept his side in touch with a pointed free. Newtown had a Ben O'Connor pointed free but in the 22nd minute the lead was down to the minimum when Alan Bowen placed Maurice O'Carroll for a well taken goal 2-3 to 1-5.
The Avondhu side moved Ben O'Connor to the 40 with twin brother Jerry going to the wing. Jerry O'Connor and Eoghan Murphy (free) swapped a point. Both sides exchanged another point that saw Newtown two points clear 2-6 to 1-7 at the interval.
Erins Own had the aid of the stiff breeze on the resumption. The East Cork side were quick to get on terms with points by Sean Kelly, Maurice O'Carroll, Eoghan Murphy, Brian Clifford, In this period Newtown had points by Ryan Clifford and James Bowles 2-8 to 1-11.
Newtown had their third goal when Philip Noonan put Michael Bowles through and he made no mistake 3-8 to 111. Ben O'Connor with two points opened up a five point lead 3-10 to 1-11. Erins Own battled very well and points by Alan Bowen and Eoghan Murphy long range (free) left just 3 points between the sides.
Good work by Jerry O'Connor and Jack Herlihy led to a good effort at goal by Michael Bowles that was well saved by Kieran Murphy. Another movement involving Jerry O'Connor and John O'Connor was broken up by Brian Clifford. John O'Connor had a late point for Newtown but Erins Own replied in the 59th minute.
In a last ditch effort it was Erins Own's Kieran Murphy who pulled first time to the net and snatched a draw. The replay takes place this Saturday evening 4pm in Pairc Uí Chaoimh.
NEWTOWNSHANDRUM: W Biggane, Gerry O'Mahony, Gerdie O'Mahony, D Gleeson, J Herlihy, P Mulcahy, P Noonan, P. J Copse 0-1, C Naughton 1-0, R Clifford 0-2, Jerry O'Connor 0-1, M Bowles 1-1, J Coughlan, J Bowles 1-1, B O'Connor 0-4 (0-3f) Subs: John O'Connor 0-1, for J Coughlan, R Farrissey for C Naughton
ERINS OWN: K Murphy, P Fenton, P Fitzgerald, S Murphy, S Cronin, P Kelly, Killian Murphy, Kieran Murphy 1-0, B Clifford, 0-3, S Kelly 0-1, M O'Carroll 11, M O'Connor, C Coakley 0-1, E Murphy 0-8 (0-7f) A Bowen Sub: M Collins for S Kelly
REFEREE: Diarmuid Kirwan (Eire Og)
- Pat Ryan at Pairc Uí Chaoimh
