Tommy Orr struck a second-half double, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Raphoe from falling to a Premier League defeat to Newry.
Raphoe 2 Newry 3
by Charlie Collins at the Royal and Prior
John Taylor’s brace and a goal from Kyle McCombe had Newry 3-0 ahead before Orr’s goals took Raphoe back into it, though it was a case of too little, too late.
Raphoe fell behind in the tenth minute when Taylor drilled home from a short corner.
That came after Simon Goudie shot wide from a Raphoe short corner.
Raphoe could have had an immediate response to the concession, but Johnny Long just missed on getting the telling touch to a cross after an excellent move down the right-hand side.
With Raphoe still reeling, Newry added a second goal in the 13th minute as Taylor finished well, with a replica of his first.
Raphoe goalkeeper David Moore saved well from Kris Fletcher and, on the stroke of half-time, Long got on the end of a cross, but he was unable to steer to the net.
Raphoe were denied when Lynsey Beck, the Newry goalkeeper, saved twice from Goudie and when McCombe made hay in a 4v2 breakaway to net the third, the visitors were home and hosed.
Raphoe didn’t give in and James Wilson powered goalward, only for Beck to make the save.
On 56 minutes, Raphoe got one back Tommy Orr slotted in from a short corner.
Six minutes form the end, Orr brilliantly flicked Keith Meehan’s pass beyond Beck.
Raphoe had a last-gasp short corner, but it was an afternoon that ended agonisingly for the Donegal club.
Raphoe: David Moore, Alan Meehan, Tom Eaton, Simon Goudie, Zack West, Evan Little, Keith Meehan, Jordan Devenney, Ian McGonigle, John Watt, Johnny Long, Tommy Orr, James Wilson.
Newry: Lynsey Beck, Andrew Baird, Jeremy Greer, Richard McGivern, Robbie Irwin, Colin McKnight, John Taylor, Matt Russell, Keith McWilliams, Kyle McCombe, Kris Fletcher.
