Holders get on top in second half

 

Newmarket Celtic A 4   Lifford A 2

WHEN Lifford A went to the break in the second of Sunday’s cup semi-finals holding a two-goal advantage, title holders Newmarket Celtic looked to be on their way out of the 2013 race.

However, they showed just why they were double champions when they stormed back into the contest in the second half.

Within seven minutes of the resumption they were back on terms and before the third quarter had concluded, they were ahead. Lifford were stunned and the holders went on to add a fourth to seal victory and another final date.

The first chance fell to Lifford’s Lunga Ballman who was put through by Darren O’Neill but his effort was just wide of the target. At the midpoint of the half, Alan Brigdale saw his effort for the winners just go over the bar.

As the half wore on, Lifford’s Darren O’Neill was causing some problems for the Newmarket defence and he eventually broke the deadlock when he rose highest to powerfully head home from a Ruairi Norrby cross in the 37th minute.

The cheering from the Lifford supporters had scarcely died down when the Ennis side struck again. O’Neill’s cross into the area caused problems and referee Martin O’Brien pointed to the penalty spot when he penalised Shane O’Brien for a handball. Norrby gave Patrick McCoy no chance with the resultant spot kick and Lifford supporters were dreaming of a cup final appearance.

Newmarket piled on the pressure on the resumption and within two minutes, they had pulled one back. Alan Brigdale turned sharply in the area and while Lifford goalie Paudie Hickey got a hand to the Newmarket player’s low drive, he was unable to prevent the ball from crossing the line.

Seven minutes into the half Newmarket won a corner on the right and when Darren Cullinan’s effort came in, Eoin O’Brien was at the back post. His header entered the net off the body of Lifford goalie Hickey to tie up the scores.

The champions were now dictating the play and Daithi O’Connell looked to have given them the lead in the 11th minute but his effort struck the upright and went wide. They hit the front in the 17th minute when Darren Cullinan’s well-struck free gave Hickey no chance.

Lifford made a number of changes in an effort to get back on terms but Newmarket were dominating in the key areas at this stage.

Any hopes of the game going to extra time were killed off a minute from the end of normal time when Michael Crosby scored goal number four for the winners.

Newmarket Celtic A: Patrick McCoy; Alan Kelly, Darren Cullinan, Eoin O’Brien, Mark Donlon; Michael Crosby, Alan Brigdale, Michael Devitt, Daithi O’Connell, Eoin Hayes, Padraic Hayes.
Subs: Diarmuid Nash for P Hayes; Neil Ryan for Brigdale; David O’Grady for Ryan (inj).
Lifford A: Paidi Hickey; Sean McDonald, Eoghan Judge, Michael Sullivan, TJ Ajisomo; Eoin Murphy, Lunga Balman, Pat Darcy, Darren O’Neill, Rachman Zequiri, Ruairi Norrby.
Subs: Ryan Boyle for Norrby; Roberto Pinto for Zequiri; John Allen for Judge; Stephen Monaghan for McDonald.
Referee: Martin O’Brien; Linesmen: Terry Kennedy and Dave McCarthy.