Newtown Blues sinkholders St Patrick’s

St Patricks’ reign as county senior football champions is over.

It ended on Friday evening at Haggardstown, the title winners of the past two years losing out to Newtown Blues (1-10 to 1-8) in a semi-final replay.

The scoreline hardly looked likely when Pat’s went into a 1-3 to nil lead after nine minutes, the goal coming from Eoin Connor. Soon afterwards, Danny O’Connor look set for a goal, but shot wide with only the keeper to beat.

The Blues then claimed five unanswered points, and though Pat’s held a 1-4 to 0-6 lead, they were set to face the second half with just 14 men following the dismissal of Shane Hynes ten minutes before the break.

The Blues grabbed the lead for the first time six minutes after the restart when Hugh McGinn converted a penalty, awarded for a foul on Derek Kierans, and they never looked back after that.

Making their numerical advantage count, Blues went four points clear, and though Pat’s pulled two back with scores from Eamon Carroll and Paddy Keenan, the challengers — down to 14 following the 57th minute dismissal of Colm Judge — hung on for a deserved win.

The winners have just a week to prepare for their final against Cooley Kickhams, seeking a first title win since 1990.