RAPHOE EARNED a useful away point against Newry in horrible conditions on Saturday.
Newry 1 Raphoe 1
Both teams started the game well with the two midfields doing battle with neither team creating any clear cut chances.
Midway through the half Newry had the first chance from a short corner but Johnny Rankin saved well from John Taylor’s effort.
Raphoe were patient in their build up and nearly took the lead themselves but Stephen Cleverley’s effort was easily saved by the Newry goalkeeper.
Newry had several more short corners before the end of the half but Rankin was in no mood to concede and kept his team in the game.
Just before half time Raphoe broke the deadlock. Cleverley eventually scored at the second attempt after his first effort was saved.
Into the second half and Newry tried to push forward in search of an equaliser but were denied by a stubborn Raphoe rearguard with Kilpatrick, Meehan, Wallace and Tinney standing strong.
Raphoe had a couple of chances from short corners during the half – Ben Wallace’s first opportunity was well saved by the keeper and the Newry defence dealt well with his second corner.
Raphoe should have doubled their lead with little over ten minutes remaining. Alan Lyttle stole the ball off a Newry defender and broke forward with Cleverley but the chance was spurned and Newry were able to clear the danger.
Shortly after this Newry equalised – William Kilpatrick committed a foul just outside the Raphoe 25 yard line but the umpire awarded Newry a penalty corner and sent Kilpatrick to the sin bin.
From this penalty corner Newry eventually found a way past Rankin with a switched routine.
It was end-to-end for the final few minutes as Ben Wallace sent in a cross from the right that hit the post and rebounded to safety.
Vincent Devenney was unlucky when he could have won it. The Newry keeper saved Lyttle’s shot but the ball bobbled over Devenney’s stick in the middle of the circle and again a Newry defender was able to clear. Next week Raphoe are at home to Portadown.
Raphoe: Johnny Rankin, William Kilpatrick, Alexander Tinney, Ben Wallace, Alan Meehan, Ian McGonigle, Kit Regan, Vincent Devenney, Adrian Cromley, Alan Lyttle, Luke Witherow, Stephen Cleverley.
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