On Sunday morning Newmarket claimed their second victory within a week in the Junior B hurling league with a fine home victory over Kanturk by 2-17 to 0-7 in dreadful conditions.

Man of the match, Shane Murphy who had an awesome day in the Newmarket jersey, pointed in the opening minute of the game. Kanturk levelled in the sixth minute before the prolific Shane Murphy added a second point. Once more Kanturk answered with an equalizer before Newmarket regained the lead in the twelfth minute through Shane Murphy before his fourth point from play increased the advantage. Robert Stack was rewarded for his industry on pointing in the eighteenth minute before Shane Murphy converted his first free of the game for a 0-6 to 0-2 lead after twenty minutes. Kanturk were next to score but Shane Murphy soon restored Newmarket’s four point lead. Three minutes from the interval, Newmarket were awarded a close in free when Bryan O’Connell was upended and Shane Murphy somehow managed to fire the resultant free to the net past the Kanturk rearguard. Donnacha O’Dea added a fine point from distance but Kanturk ended the half with a point as Newmarket turned over in front by 1-8 to 0-4.

Incessant rain on a heavy pitch made conditions unpleasant for both sides but it was Kanturk who were first to score upon the restart. Bryan O’Connell was rewarded for his efforts on pointing in the fifth minute of the half but once more Kanturk responded with a point. David Kelly pointed a well worked score for Newmarket as the sides exchanged points and the score now read 1-10 to 0-7 ten minutes into the half. Driven on by a solid rearguard with Donnacha O’Dea and the excellent Conor Cronin to the fore, Newmarket found an extra gear and the superb Shane Murphy proceeded to add five points in a row during an eight minute spell where three were converted expertly from play. Newmarket defied the poor conditions and their excellent all round performance was rewarded with Séan Irwin finding the net for a second Newmarket goal. Points from Donnacha O’Dea and Paul Verling sealed an impressive Newmarket victory, their fourth of the campaign.

The Newmarket team was…

Kieran Hayes
William O’Flynn		John McSweeney		Donnacha Fitzpatrick
Pa O’Brien		Brendan Stack		Michael Kenneally
	Conor Cronin		Donnacha O’Dea (0-2)
Colin O’Sullivan		Robert Stack (0-1)		David Kelly (0-1)
Bryan O’Connell (0-1)		Shane Murphy (1-11)		Paul Verling (0-1)
SUBS: Seán Irwin (1-0), Billy Daly