THE FACT that this game was still in the melting pot as the closing minutes arrived was a testimony to the hard work and doggedness of the Newport men. They had fought a rearguard action for most of the evening and amazingly, were still in contention when they launched a series of raids late in the game.

In truth, Ballyhaunis should have had the game wrapped up at that stage but a missed penalty, poor finishing and a series of good saves from Celestino Fernandez ensured that there was only a goal between them as the final run-in arrived.

Ballyhaunis should have taken the lead after just two minutes but Brian Kilcourse's penalty kick failed to hit the target after Kenny O'Donnell had handled the ball in goalmouth.

Newport, who play their home games in Milebush, defended stoutly as the half progressed with Pat Sweeney and Brian Clark to the fore, but Ballyhaunis wasted a series of good chances before the half-time whistle.

That trend continued after the break when Fernandez denied both Michael Waldron and Paul Finn with calm saves. The goalkeeper was eventually beaten after 59 minutes when he parried Finn's driven cross and Damien Hurley was on hand to lash home the opener.

The same player almost doubled his tally four minutes later but he directed Johnny Kelly's delivery just over the bar as the Red and Black poured forward.

After 60 minutes Declan Ward forced Fernandez into another fine save as the visitors searched hard for the game-defining second goal.

Mike McTigue, Sean Chambers and Michael Flanagan gave Newport the odd glimmer of the opposition goal and the men in white were always capable of making a breakthrough. Ballyhaunis defended well when they had to but Michael Waldron had to be at his very best to stop Sean Chambers when the Newport man very nearly broke through after 82 minutes.

Four minutes later Newport had a penalty shout when Mike McTigue's shot was blocked by Paul Walsh. The home boys believed that Walsh had used his hands to deflect the ball out for a corner, but the referee decided otherwise.

The man with the whistle was a central figure again just before the end when he issued a second yellow card to Niall Mullarkey after the Newport midfielder and the Ballyhaunis goalkeeper, Daniel Vagenknecht had clashed when challenging for the ball in the box.

There was still time for Ballyhaunis to launch one more attack and Miroslav Rylak hit the crossbar with a header after connecting with a corner from Damien Hurley.

There's no doubt that Ballyhaunis deserved to win the game but they were given a stern examination from a hardworking and gallant Newport outfit.

BALLYHAUNIS: Daniel Vagenknecht, Fergus Coyne, Paul Nolan, Michael Waldron, Brian Kilcourse, Ciaran Gallagher, Johnny Kelly, Paul Finn, Peter Matuska, Damien Hurley, Miroslav Rylak. Subs: Declan Ward and Paul Walsh (for Kilcourse and Kelly 68), Aidan Paul Kelly (for Finn 84).

NEWPORT: Celestino Fernandez, Sean Chambers, Brian Clark, Johnny O'Donnell, Kenny O'Donnell, Dara Reid, Pat Sweeney, Niall Mullarkey, Mike McTigue, Declan McTigue, Keith Davitt. Subs: Michael Flanagan (for Davitt ht), Stephen Murphy (for D McTigue 59), John Duggan (for J O'Donnell 64).



Referee: Mick Kelly.

(Article courtesy of the the Western People).