Newmarket’s minor footballers were defeated in the championship by Croke Rovers in Kanturk on Saturday evening, 2-10 to 1-6, and thus relinquished the title they have claimed for the previous three seasons.

Croke Rovers started the brighter and had two points on the board within six minutes. Newmarket struggled to find the target before Alan Forde found the range with a fine effort in the thirteenth minute. Croke Rovers pointed next before scoring the games first goal in the eighteenth minute to take a five point lead. This resulted in Newmarket producing their best spell of the game but a number of scoring opportunities went abegging despite some fine build up play. Danny Allen and Alan Forde did score but Newmarket turned over at half time in arrears by 1-3 to 0-3.

John Ryan entered the fray for the second half despite carrying an injury and he converted two frees within ten minutes to leave just a point between the sides. Croke Rovers then took control and in the next ten minutes. Newmarket were grateful to goalkeeper Liam O’Callaghan who produced a string of fine saves. Croke Rovers did however add six points to their total and take a commanding seven point lead. John Lane pointed for Newmarket and then Conor Cronin flicked a dropping forty five metre kick to the net to leave just three points the difference. Croke Rovers sealed the contest when they replied with an immediate goal and added an insurance point to run out clear victors.

The Newmarket team was…

Liam O’Callaghan
Damien Kelly		Robert Stack		Brendan Stack
Andy Twomey		Paul Cashman		Darren O’Keeffe
	Conor Cronin (1-0)		Danny Allen (0-1)
Bryan O’Connell		John Lane (0-1)		Alan Forde (0-2)
Eddie Allen		Ian Flanagan		Kieran Lehane
SUBS: John Ryan (0-2), Michael O’Leary