Newmarket’s under 21 hurlers progressed to the quarter final of the championship when they defeated Meelin by 3-14 to 4-9 in a thrilling contest at Meelin on Sunday.

Newmarket began brightly when Ian Flanagan clipped over a neat point in the second minute. Despite an encouraging start Newmarket were rattled in the fourth minute when a speculative Meelin effort ended in the back of the net and this was followed by a seventh minute point. Newmarket regained their composure and two John Ryan frees reduced the deficit but Meelin had the next two points to establish a 1-3 to 0-3 lead by the seventeenth minute. Newmarket hurled well throughout the field and were rewarded with a string of scores. John Lane pointed a free before Ian Flanagan added his second point. John Lane tied the sides for the only time with a fine point from play following some neat teamwork, at 0-6 to 1-3 by the twenty second minute. John Ryan gave Newmarket the lead and a minute later and their endeavour was further rewarded when Kieran Lehane finished to the net from the edge of the square. Meelin replied with a point but the excellent Robert Stack added a fine point for Newmarket. The sides exchanged points before the break with a John Lane point leaving Newmarket in front by 1-9 to 1-5 following an entertaining half of hurling.

Robert Stack finished well for the first point of the second half before Meelin got the next two points. Conor Cronin converted a long range free to re-establish a four point advantage. A turning point came twelve minutes into the half when John Lane on taking a close in free, elected to shoot for goal and he found the net for a crucial second Newmarket goal which he followed up with two more points. Meelin responded to this nine point deficit by gaining a second goal which was supplemented with a point. Newmarket were further boosted when some clever play from the inside forward line left Ian Flanagan bearing in on goal and he finished neatly for a third goal. A brace of points were exchanged as once more John Lane was on target. However, Meelin as expected came with a storming finish and two quickfire goals added to a climactic finish but Newmarket just held out and an excellent all round performance was rewarded with victory.

The Newmarket team was…

Paul Verling
William O’Flynn		John Scanlon		Timmy O’Keeffe
Brendan Stack		Kevin O’Sullivan		Nicky Flanagan
	Conor Cronin (0-1)		John Lane (1-6)
Billy Daly		Robert Stack (0-2)		John Ryan (0-3)
Kieran Lehane (1-0)		Denis McCarthy		Ian Flanagan (1-2)
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