The Newmarket U16 footballers’ unbeaten run was ended on Friday night (14th August) in an enthralling and thrilling contest in the first round of the U16 football championship in Kanturk against Kanturk. From the start the atmosphere on the pitch was both nervous and intense, both teams finding it hard to settle, Newmarket had the advantage of the breeze in the first half but found it hard to capitalise on this advantage.

In fact it took twelve minutes before the first score went over, a point from David Enright for Newmarket . Kanturk then replied swiftly which in turn was replied by a TJ Brosnan point in the fifteenth minute. Kanturk then started to take control in a very tight game and scored two points in the 22nd and 23rd minute to go one ahead, then just before half time Newmarket pressed home there advantage with two further scores from David Enright in the 28th and 29th minute leaving the scoreline a close 0-4 to 0-3 in favour of Newmarket.

The second half started as nervously as the first with Kanturk taking an early advantage with two points in the 33rd and 35th minutes, to go one ahead. Kanturk seemed to make more headway with the wind advantage in their favour, However a rare Newmarket attack saw Vince Molloy score a point to bring the scores level again in the 47th minute. The match continued in this nip and tuck fashion until Kanturk took the lead in the 56th minute, which was immediately replied with a point from Evan O’Keeffe in the 55th minute bringing the scoreline level once again at 0-6 to 0-6 with only 5 minutes left to play. At this point Kanturk drove again at the Newmarket defence which stood resolute but some poor clearances led to Kanturk going two points ahead with only a minute remaining.

In the 60th minute a long ball down the field found Peter Lynch who crossed the ball into the square finding Luke McCarthy. Luke turned and shot, the ball going inches wide, this missed chance could have sealed the game for Newmarket , however Kanturk replied immediately with a point to finish the game 3 points ahead 0-9 to 0-6. the feeling throughout the game being whoever scored the goal would probably shade the game, however on the night Kanturk just shaded it and where probably the slightly better team overall due to the better use of the wind conditions in the second half. Newmarket now go into a back-door game with Knocknagree in two weeks time.

The Newmarket team was…

Shane McAuliffe
Billy Lane		Jack Birtley		Timmy O’Flynn
Con McAuliffe		Gavin Forde		Paudie Allen
	TJ Brosnan (0-1)		David Enright (0-3)
Vince Molloy (0-1)		Patrick Kelly		Nicky Barrett
Luke McCarthy		Jacko Flaherty		Gerry Murphy
SUBS: Peter Lynch, Evan O’Keeffe 0-1, Alan Ryan, Donnacha Drumm.