Newtown and Irvinestown share spoils in Club Players'

Newtownbutler and Irvinestown played out a draw in 2A of the Club Players’ Competition on Friday evening at Páirc Chanónach.

Only a late goal handed Irvinestown a win when the sides met at the same venue in the Intermediate Championship last summer and it would be another tense and tight affair with nothing to separate them on this occasion.

Newtownbutler manager Frank Mulligan was pleased with his team as they continued their unbeaten start this season following wins over Aghadrumsee and Coa.

“It was good, yeah,” he said on the performance. “We’re happy with the outcome of it overall. We’ve lost four players from the first two games through injuries, so the boys who stepped in done pretty well for us.

"Niall Mohan, our captain, will be out for the season unfortunately after picking up an ACL injury in the opening game which is obviously very disappointing.”

Irvinestown grabbed an early lead through opening scores from Gary Maguire before Kealan Fitzpatrick eventually got Newtownbutler off the mark with Adam McDonald adding another.

Mattie McDermott and Barry Goodwin pointed for the visitors to give them an 0-06 to 0-03 lead at the break.

Maguire, McDermott and Jarlath Maguire edged Irvinestown further ahead after the hosts tagged on early second-half scores from Jordan Chapman and Dylan Martin.

Fitzpatrick netted a much-needed goal for Newtown' with a tidy finish and they would grab a second goal to go in front as a turnover by Lochlann King saw him then play the ball across for Adam McDonald who picked out the net.

Late points from Gary and Jarlath Maguire meant the sides would take a point each.

Newtownbutler will have a free weekend on Friday while will aim to gain their first win of the campaign at home to Aghadrumsee after also starting with a draw against Tempo.