Newmarket rounded off their junior hurling league campaign in the best possible fashion, with a fine victory away to Tullylease by 0-22 to 1-12, in splendid sunshine on Sunday afternoon.

Newmarket got on the scoreboard instantly with the outstanding John Lane pointing from play within a minute. Tullylease then equalized before edging into the lead. A lively, open, free flowing game developed from the outset and John Lane tied the sides for a second time from a placed ball in the sixth minute before he regained the lead for Newmarket from play in the ninth minute. Tullylease had the next two points with Tony O’Keeffe getting Newmarket back on level terms. Tullylease gained a slender advantage once more but a Barry O’Leary point had the sides level for a fifth time at 0-5 apiece after fifteen minutes.

The entertaining contest flowed from end to end and John Lane gave Newmarket a slender lead in their next attack. Tullylease then had the only goal of the game to take a two point lead but this setback failed to deter a confident Newmarket outfit. Shane Murphy inspired in defence and two frees from John Lane had the sides level once more, 0-8 to 1-5 after twenty five minutes. Newmarket grew in confidence and had a prolific end to the half. John Scanlon did well to point from close range before John Lane pointed once more. Michael Kenneally finished off an excellent move by drilling the ball over the bar and he soon added a second point to gain Newmarket a four point advantage, 0-12 to 1-5 at the turnover.

Newmarket resumed the second half as they ended the first and John Lane found the target from distance. Barry O’Leary also pointed with Donnacha O’Dea adding a third successive point within five minutes. Tullylease hit back with the next two points but Newmarket were hurling excellently, especially in defence with Brendan Stack in outstanding form with the other five defenders also making a substantial impact on the game. John Lane pointed from a free and Newmarket enjoyed a six point lead, 0-16 to 1-7 at the end of the third quarter. Tullylease cut the deficit on scoring the next two points but the prolific John Lane settled Newmarket again on once more converting a placed ball. Two more Tullylease points left just three points between the sides, 0-17 to 1-11 with little over ten minutes remaining.

Newmarket found a response again and this came through centre half forward Michael Kenneally who crucially hit over a brace of points. Tullylease kept in touch with the next point but Newmarket flourished to the finish. Three late points from Donnacha O’Dea, Barry O’Leary and John Lane, with his eleventh of the hour, capped a memorable team performance and well deserved victory.

The Newmarket team was .

The Newmarket team was…

Kieran Hayes
William O’Flynn		Brendan Stack		Donnacha Fitzpatrick
Shane Murphy		Kevin O’Sullivan		Robert Stack
	John Ryan		John Lane (0-11)
Tony O’Keeffe (0-1)		Michael Kenneally (0-4)		Donnacha O’Dea (0-2)
Barry O’Leary (0-3)		John Scanlon (0-1)		Kieran Lehane
SUB: Niall O’Connor