Clan na nGael produced a stirring second half display at Sigerson Park Strabane on Sunday to defeat pre match favourites Newtownstewart 1-14 to 1-11 in the first round of the Tyrone Junior Championship. The greater experience and drive of the winners determined the outcome after Newtown dominated the first half and went in at the break leading 1-8 to 0-5.
The St. Eugene’s made one change to their selected line-out before the start with Ryan Mayse coming into the full forward line. The fleet footed Mayse caused all sorts of problems for the CNG defence hitting four fine points inside the opening ten minutes.
During an entertaining first half John Kerlin’s side struggled to cope with the pace and movement of their opponents with the driving runs of Kevin Gallagher and Aidan Mc Sorley in particular causing them problems. Mayse continued to benefit from a steady supply of ball and took his tally to six points before producing a piece of magic to set Aiden Mc Sorley up for a goal four minutes before the break.
Danny Ball landed a point to briefly stem the side but Newtown finished the half strongly with scores from Mc Sorley again and Damien Donnelly to go in at the break in a strong position leading by six.
CNG showed greater urgency after the break and had reduced the gap to three within eight minutes of the restart following scores from Danny and Joe Ball (2). Momentum was very much with the Clan men now and when Aaron Devine found the net in the tenth minute to level the game there was only going to be one winner. Clan na nGael grew in confidence and points from Paul Gormley, Stevie O’Neill and Joe Ball were enough to see them home by three.
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