Newmarket travelled to Tullylease on Monday evening and emerged victors by 0-11 to 0-8 in the Junior B hurling league game against the home side played on an excellent playing surface.

The home side began the brighter and built up a three point lead by the seventh minute. Shane Murphy got Newmarket off the mark by pointing a ninth minute free but Tullylease regained a three point advantage by the thirteenth minute. Newmarket gradually came to the fore and Liam Murphy pointed at the end of the first quarter. Newmarket proceeded to dominate for the remainder of the half and were rewarded with a succession of points. Colin O’Sullivan and Shane Murphy points had the sides level for the only time in the game at 0-4 each after eighteen minutes. Shane Murphy was again on target before influential midfielder Donnacha O’Dea scored two points as six successive points gave Newmarket an advantage of 0-7 to 0-4 at half time.

Tullylease pointed within three minutes of the turnover before the impressive Conor Cronin pointed for Newmarket. However, Newmarket struggled to find the target in the second half which they ended with twelve wides. Shane Murphy and Donnacha O’Dea did give Newmarket a lead of 0-10 to 0-5 before Tullylease reduced the arrears on pointing with ten minutes remaining. As Newmarket’s defence came under incessant pressure John McSweeney was truly outstanding throughout in a resolute unit where Kieran Hayes and before him Paul Verling were excellent in goal. Shane Murphy converted a free from the narrowest of angles but two Tullylease points ensured tense closing minutes. Newmarket held firm and emerged with a hard fought victory.

The Newmarket team was…

Paul Verling
William O’Flynn		John McSweeney		Donnacha Fitzpatrick
Pa O’Brien		Brendan Stack		Michael Kenneally
	Donnacha O’Dea (0-3)		Conor Cronin (0-1)
Colin O’Sullivan (0-1)		Robert Stack		David Kelly
Liam Murphy (0-1)		Shane Murphy (0-5)		Sean Irwin
SUB: Kieran Hayes