A disasterous opening half left Newmarket in a perilous position as they were defeated by Banteer, 4-14 to 2-8 in the first round of the Duhallow Under 21 hurling championship game played at Kanturk on Friday evening.

The opening score of the game did not come until the ninth minute but instantly the floodgates opened for Banteer as they built up a five point lead before adding three goals in a five minute spell. Newmarket were being blown away and Banteer ended the half with a lead of 3-10 with Newmarket failing to register a score.

To their credit Newmarket resumed a much different side and instantly pointed through Michael Kenneally and John Lane. A fourth Banteer goal duly arrived before Newmarket pointed through Shane Murphy and John Lane. Two goals within a minute maintained Newmarkets momentum as Michael Kenneally and Robert Stack both goalled from close range. John Lane pointed before Banteer then hit two further points. John Lane again and a brace of points from Shane Anthony Murphy ensured Newmarket reduced the margin before the finish.

John Ryan
William O’Flynn		Sean Irwin		David Kelly
John Scanlon		Michael O’Neill		Timothy Murphy
	Niall O’Connor		Shane Anthony Murphy (0-2)
John Lane (0-4)		Nicky Flanagan		Shane Murphy (0-1)
T.J. Bodie		Michael Kenneally (1-1)		Robert Stack (1-0)
SUB: David Guiney