Eoghan Rua win leaves Newbridge in trouble

With just three league points on the board they were four adrift of both Claudy and Banagher.

They made a brave fist of it in the the first half as they twice led by two points before going in still two to the good, 0-8 to 0-6, at half-time.

Newbridge increased their lead to three early in the second half at 0-9 to 0-6 as hopes of a valuable two league points were sustained.

However they were unable to push on as Eoghan Rua hit eight points on the bounce to move five clear, 0-14 to 0-9, heading into added time.

The visitors managed to score just their second point of the half in the 30th minute before Coleraine had the last say to point for a 0-15 to 0-10 win.

With only two games left to play Newbridge, still on three points, must win both their final two games and hope Banagher and Claudy, they are on seven points, do not pick up any more points.

With more need of a win Newbridge started this game very much on the front foot and were 0-3 to 0-1 ahead by the 11th minute, Peter McGrogan (2) and Danny Mulholland scoring for them, Eoghan Rua’s Ruari Mooney levelled the visitors opening point in the fourth minute. By the end of the first quarter Coleraine got back on level terms with points from Ciaran Gaile, a free and a well worked Mark McTaggart effort. Newbridge briefly took the lead but two points from Gaile and Colm McGoldrick had Eoghan Rua back in front.

Newbridge then enjoyed a profitable spell, as they tacked on three points in a row from Peter McGrogan, Ryan McElhone, a free and Danny Mulholland.

Indeed it could have been better for the visitors as a combination of Barry McGoldrick and goalkeeper Ryan McGeough denied them a certain goal in the 19th minute.

As it was Newbridge led 0-7 to 0-5 by the 24th minute. A brilliant save from Michael O’Neil, clawing away a fisted effort from Colm McGoldrick kept Newbridge two ahead and that’s the way it stayed by the break as the sides exchanged points in the closing minutes of the half.

Eoghan Rua dominated possession early in the second half but their finishing was poor as they shot three wides from scoreable positions.

In their first attack on the restart Peter McGrogan fired over a fine point from a tight angle to increase Newbridge’s lead to three seven minutes in.

The sides then exchanged wiides with that three point lead still intact heading into the final quarter, at that stage it seemed Newbridge might just grab those all important points. However the last quarter totally belonged to the home side as the move of Colm McGoldrick to midfield helped the Coleraine men to dominate possession.

Points from Paddy Mullan, Niall Holly and Liam McGoldrick had the sides level with ten minutes left.

Then two points from Ciaran McGoldrick either side of a fisted effort from Ruari Mooney had the Coleraine men three aheadgoing into the last five minutes.

Newbridge were not getting any change now out of a well disciplined defence, they never really threatened to get the major score they needed at that late stage.Two fine long range points from Colm McGoldrick all but sealed Newbridge’s fate as Coleraine moved five ahead going into added time.

Late points were exchanged but there was no way back for the visitors as Coleraine picked up the league points while Newbridge stay rooted to the bottom of the table their stay in Division 1 now looking all but over.

Eoghan Rua: Ryan McGeough; Barry Daly, Niall Holly, Ciaran Lagan; Ciaran Mullan, Barry McGoldrick, Ciaran Lenehan; Liam McGoldrick, Ruari Mooney; Ciaran Gaile, Ciaran McGoldrick, Mark McTaggart; Stephen Coyles, Colm McGoldrick, Conor Carey. Substitutions: Paddy Mullan for C Mullan (12).

Eoghan Rua scorers: Colm McGoldrick (0-3), Ciaran McGoldrick (0-2), Ruari Mooney (0-2), Ciaran Gaile (0-2, 0-1 free), Liam McGoldrick (0-2), Conor Carey, Mark McTaggart, Paddy Mullan and Niall Holy (0-1 each).

Newbridge: Michael O’Neill; Caolan McGrogan, Conor McGrogan, Deccy McKeever; Odhran Scott, Ciaran Brooks, Nathan Rocks; Eamon Burke, Gerard Burke; Dessie McColgan, Kevin Sweeney, Odhran McGlone; Danny Mulholland, Peter McGrogan, Ryan McElhone..

Substitutes: Michael Bateson for O Scott (49), Paddy McGuigan for K Sweeney (49).

Newbridge scorers: Peter McGrogan (0-4, 0-1 free), Danny Mulholland (0-3), Ryan McElhone (0-2), Dessie McColgan (0-1).