NEWTOWN BLUES 2-18
DUNDALK GAELS 0-11

A devastating 13 minute spell midway through the second half saw Newtown Blues crush the challenge of Dundalk Gaels in this Senior Championship clash at Clan na Gael Park on Sunday evening.

As a result of the 13-point victory, the Blues are safely through to the quarter-final as winners of Group 1.

However, although the reigning champions were comfortable winners in the end, they didn't have it all their own way in a game that was delicately balanced for the first 40 minutes.

At that stage, the sides were level at nine points apiece when the Blues upped the pace, scoring seven of the next eight points before goals from John Kermode on 50 minutes and Derek Kierans three minutes later, settled the issue.

Prior to that there had been very little between the teams and the Gaels looked as if they might cause an upset. However, their second half collapse means that they will now fight it out with O Raghallaighs for a place in the last eight.

The game began with the two quick-fire points from Derek Kierans and Keith Arnold before Derek Crilly got the Dundalk men off the mark. Colm Judge extended the lead before the Gaels took control and kicked four unanswered points to lead by 0-5 to 0-3 on 13 minutes.

The Blues then enjoyed a spell of dominance and overturned that deficit to lead by 0-8 to 0-6. However, points from Kevin McArdle and Sean McCann sent the teams in level at the break.

The game remained in the balance as Derek Kierans and Gerard McSorley traded scores to leave the teams level on 40 minutes.

The Drogheda men then showed the mark of champions as they kicked five points in a row before Sean McCann broke that sequence on 46 minutes to leave the score 0-14 to 0-19. It was only a temporary reprieve as Cormac McQuillan and Andy McDonnell pointed before John Kermode put the result beyond doubt on 50 minutes.

For good measure, Derek Kierans added a second goal soon after to seal a very impressive win for the Blues.

NEWTOWN BLUES: Conor Barton; Darren Moore, Eoghan Judge, Andrew Tinley; John Connolly, Andy McDonnell 0-3, James Murray 0-1; Colm Judge 0-3, Keith Lynch 0-1; Barry Sharkey, Hugh McGinn 0-2, Brian Kermode; Keith Arnold 0-1, Derek Kierans 1-3, John Kermode 1-2. Subs: Aidan O'Brien for D Moore, Conor Brannigan 0-1 for B Sharkey, Cormac McQuillan for K Arnold, Conor Moore for D Kierans.

DUNDALK GAELS: Stephen McLaughlin; Darragh O'Callaghan, Jamie Faulkner, Eamonn Kenny; David McComish, Sean Fee, Andrew Coleman; David Maloney 0-2, Sean McCann 0-4; James Stewart, Derek Crilly 0-1, Peter McGinnity; Gerard McSorley 0-2, Anthony McSorley, Kevin McArdle 0-2. Subs: Niall Hearty for P McGinnity, David Moley for D O'Callaghan. Tweet

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