NEWTOWN BLUES 1-16

NH MAIRTIN 1-7

Newtown Blues got the defence of their Senior Championship title off to an impressive start when they brushed aside the challenge of a disappointing Nh Mairtin at Dunleer on Sunday night.

A game that was expected to be a close contest proved to be a one-sided affair as the Drogheda side were in control for most of the 60 minutes and emerged very comfortable winners.

The early exchanges suggested that the Mairtins were going to put it up to the champions as points from Conor Whelan and Eoghan Callaghan in response to an Andy McDonnell opener had their side in front.

However, the challenge didn't last long as three excellent points from Ross Nally helped the Blues move 0-6 to 0-2 clear before the same player scored the first goal of the game on 17 minutes.

Scores from Andy McDonnell and Ciaran Downey helped extend the lead to 1-8 to 0-3 at the break.

The Mairtins rallied at the start of the second half as Sam Mulroy found the net from a penalty before they reduced the gap to three with points from John Clutterbuck and Stephen Campbell.

However, the revival didn't last too long as the Blues responded with eye-catching scores from Colm Judge, Nally and Downey to put the result beyond doubt. Sub Jamie Kelly added two late points to seal the win.

NEWTOWN BLUES: Dean Martin; Ian Connor, Aidan O'Brien, Stephen Moonan; Cormac Reynolds, Emmet Carolan, John Connolly; Andy McDonnell 0-4, John Kermode; Thomas Costello, Colm Judge 0-2, Conor Branigan 0-1; Ciaran Downey 0-3 (1f), Ross Nally 1-4 (1f), Conor Moore. Subs: Jamie Kelly 0-2 for T Costello, Ronan Levins for A O'Brien, Hugh McGinn for C Branigan, Paul Kellegher for C Judge.

NH MAIRTIN: Craig Lynch; Paul Berrill, Michael Fanning, Eoghan Callaghan 0-1; Padraig McDonagh, Thomas Sullivan, John Clutterbuck 0-2; Wayne Campbell, Gavan Mooney; Stephen Campbell 0-1, JP Rooney, Conor Healy; Conor Whelan 0-1, Sam Mulroy 1-2 (1-0 pen, 1f), Adan Winters. Bryan McQuillan for C Whelan, Eoin Wright for P McDonagh.

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