Maguiresbridge 3-03 Newtownbutler 1-12

Newtownbutler just about held on at Páirc na hÓige on Friday evening to secure a third league win and finish above opponents Maguiresbridge.

The away side led by nine points at halftime after a dominant opening 30 minutes, but the hosts came back into the game after the restart with two goals.

It was kitchen-sink stuff at the end but three second-half points from Newtownbutler was the difference between the sides at full-time.

A Sean Conlon mark kicked off the scoring for the visitors as they sailed into a 0-04 to nothing lead with Kealan Fitzpatrick and Diarmuid King also adding their names to the scoresheet.

The ‘Bridge came back into the game when Darragh McPhillips’ shot from range dropped short and Fionn Nolan palmed into the net from close range but the away side should have been further ahead as they missed some guilt edge goal chances of their own.

Fitzpatrick, Jarlath Jackman and Conlon pushed them further ahead with points before the latter then found space to fire home a goal on the stroke of halftime to leave the score at 1-09 to 1-00.

There was some improvement in the second-half from the home side as Sean Corrigan eventually got them off the mark with a point ten minutes in.

Nolan added a second goal from the penalty spot shortly after as Fitzpatrick opened Newtown’s second half scoring at the other end.

A third ‘Bridge goal followed as Corrigan’s high ball into the square came back off the far post and was judged to have crossed the line before being pushed out.

Points from Corrigan and Sean Porteous were cancelled out by Conlon and Fitzpatrick, with Mark Gavin also receiving a late black card to reduce the home side to 14.

Despite Maguiresbridge’s late advances, Newtown held on for a deserved win in the end.