No excuses from Noonan as manager rues missed goal chances
Related Articles
Thursday February 18 2010
IT was Newtown's first defeat in nine championship outings under his stewardship, but Phil Noonan was typically dignified in the wake of it.
"We were there or thereabouts, but maybe their physical strength caught us a bit in the finish. We had about three goal chances we didn't take in the second half, but overall Ballyhale possibly deserved it.
"There was only a puck of a ball in at really, and we are pleased about that, although it's obviously disappointing to lose a game that we might just as easily have won."
Noonan said that Newtown made a bright start in the second half, adding he was very encouraged after they scored three points to draw level.
"We never got ahead of them, and after they went a few points up again, realistically we needed a goal to pull it out of the fire. We made a few mistakes which could be put down to a lack of experience, and I thought the breaks didn't go our way near the end.
"One decision, in particular, went against us when we were just a point behind, and maybe it cost us the game.But it was in the first ten minutes of the second half that we were really shaping up well, and their goalie had to make a brilliant save from Cathal Naughton to prevent us from making a vital breakthrough. Had that shot gone in, it would have given us a huge lift, and I believe we could have motored on from there."
Noonan acknowledged that Newtown were under fierce pressure in the first half, and that they were fortunate to go in at half time just three points behind.
"Ballyhale's physicality caused us all sorts of problems, but we knew beforehand it was going to be one of their main assets. In fairness to our lads, they coped with it better when we had the wind behind us in the second half, and, to be honest, I felt we were in a good position at half time.
"We were well in touch without having played anywhere close to our potential, and I was confident we could raise our performance in the second half.
" We certainly did that, but we just didn't get the rub of the green when we needed it most, and Ballyhale, to their credit, did enough to keep us at bay in a thrilling finish. We can have no complaints, the lads gave it everything, and their effort only just fell short.
"We have a young team, and we can learn from this, so I fully expect we'll be back again. Whether or which, we are happy with our performance today, and we are very proud of the players," concluded the Newtown manager.
- Noel Horgan
