Monaleen 1-12 Newcastle West 1-7:A SUPERBLY tucked away penalty by Ger Collins after 46 minutes put his side 1-8 to 0-4 clear and they withstood a late rally by Newcastle West to retain their crown at the Gaelic Grounds.

Monaleen, thanks mainly to a brace of points by Collins inside 90 seconds, led by 0-5 to 0-3 at the interval.

Newcastle played with the aid of the strong breeze and regretted six first half wides compared to only two by the Micheal McDermott managed Monaleen. The losers should have been closer but Stephen Kelly blasted inches wide when a goal seemed certain after 12 minutes.

It was close enough until midway in the second half with Monaleen 0-8 to 0-4 in front when the penalty was awarded after Jason OBrien was fouled as he tried to gain possession after a great save by JJ Sheehy. Collins struck the penalty past Sheehy and the game was as good as over.

Newcastle West, though, plundered a goal from substitute Seán Neville following a point by Tom Quilligan and Jamie Lee had another as a major comeback threatened but a pointed free – his fourth of the hour – by Muiris Gavin settled Monaleen again.

MONALEEN: D OSullivan; D Bourke, B Fitzpatrick, F Nash; E Keating, R Murray, J Hoare; P Kinnerk, B Geary; P Russell, C Walshe (0-2), J OBrien, (0-2); G Collins, (1-3, goal pen), M Crowley (0-1), M Gavin (0-4 four frees). Subs: S Hickey for Keating (16 mins), L Kavanagh for Geary, P Keating for Walshe (both 59 mins).

NEWCASTLE WEST: JJ Sheehy; M OKeeffe, D Woods, M Dowling; S Browne, S Nix, P Hannon; I Corbett, M McMahon; S Kelly (0-1), S Lyons (0-1), T Quilligan (0-2); J Kelly, M Quilligan (0-2, one free), S McAuliffe. Subs: S Neville (1-0) for McMahon, J Lee (0-1) for McAuliffe (both 51 mins), C Downes for Hannon (55 mins).