Newmarket’s minor footballers got their season off to an ideal start with an excellent league victory over Wolfe Tones at Kanturk on Sunday evening, an entertaining contest ending 1-10 to 0-11.

The home side stormed out of the blocks and kicked over two points in as many minutes as the game commenced. Newmarket settled on Nicky Barrett pointing in their first attack but in the main it was their defensive rearguard that was pressed into action but they settled to their task with some outstanding displays throughout from Danny O’Connell, Billy Lane and centre half back Paudie Allen. Kanturk increased their advantage with two quickfire points at the end of the opening quarter but Newmarket kept in touch with Luke McCarthy pointing in the seventeenth minute. Kanturk again added a brace of points but Newmarket finished the half off well and Luke McCarthy kicked over a point to reduce the deficit to three points, 0-6 to 0-3 at half time.

Newmarket gained possession immediately upon the throw in and were awarded a close in free which once more Luke McCarthy duly converted. Minutes later, Newmarket survived a flurry of activity around their goalmouth which saw Kanturk hit both an upright and the crossbar before Shane McAuliffe had to produce a point blank save to keep Kanturk at bay. Newmarket gained momentum and two tremendous individual points from both midfielders, Patrick Kelly and Gavin Forde brought the sides level at 0-6 apiece for the first time in the contest.

Nine minutes into the half Newmarket struck a decisive blow when some wonderful approach play involving Nicky Barrett, Patrick Kelly and Luke McCarthy set up the impressive Barry O’Connor and he dispatched the ball superbly to the back of the Kanturk net for the games only goal. Kanturk hit back with two points to leave just a point in the difference as an exciting contest ebbed and flowed. An inspiring point from the superb Paudie Allen and a free from Luke McCarthy regained the impetus for Newmarket. They further strengthened their position on further scores from Jacko Flaherty and Luke McCarthy as the game entered the final ten minutes. Kanturk finished strongly and Newmarket survived a few narrow escapes as their defence held out strongly with their opponents clipping inroads into the lead with three points in succession. Newmarket survived the onslaught and held on to record a fine victory.

The Newmarket team and scorers…

Luke McCarthy (0-5), Barry O’Connor (1-0), Paudie Allen (0-1), Patrick Kelly (0-1), Gavin Forde (0-1), Jacko Flaherty (0-1), Nicky Barrett (0-1)

Shane McAuliffe
Alan Ryan		Jamie Hayes		Danny O'Connell
Billy Lane		Paudie Allen		Con McAuliffe
	Patrick Kelly		Gavin Forde
Daniel Culloty		Jacko Flaherty		Barry O'Connor
Nicky Barrett		Luke McCarthy		Daniel O'Doherty
Subs: Donnacha Drumm