Newmarket’s minor hurlers began their league campaign with an away trip to Ballyhooly to play the home side Blackwater Rovers and ended up being defeated by 2-8 to 0-9.

Showery conditions made the going difficult for both sides but Newmarket settled and took the lead when Donal Hannon pointed a third minute free. Two well taken points from long distance within a minute from David Enright and Jacko Flaherty gave Newmarket an excellent start to the contest.

Blackwater Rovers had their first point of the game in the eighth minute and the game swung in their favour when they took the lead on scoring a goal in the sixteenth minute. Newmarket, driven on by the efforts of the outstanding Paudie Allen and fellow defenders Eoin O’Connell, Jamie Hayes and Alan Ryan saw numerous scoring opportunities drop short during the game and they failed to add to their tally for the remainder of the half. Blackwater Rovers increased their advantage on adding two points and as the half concluded they added another brace of scores to enjoy a five point advantage, 1-5 to 0-3 at half time.

Newmarket regrouped and turned in a much better performance as the second half progressed. Donal Hannon was Newmarket’s talisman and he was on target from three frees as Newmarket made significant inroads into their deficit. As the third quarter concluded, Donal Hannon added a fine point from play to leave just a single point between the sides, 1-5 to 0-7. Blackwater Rovers had their first point of the half in the seventeenth minute and a second goal minutes later was a pivotal score. Two further points followed and suddenly, seven points separated the sides. Newmarket again saw chances go a begging before they finished the game in the ascendancy. Donal Hannon scored his sixth point of the game before Jacko Flaherty raced through the opposing rearguard before blasting over the bar for a late consolation score.
The Newmarket team and scorers…

Donal Hannon (0-6), Jacko Flaherty (0-2), David Enright (0-1).

Shane McAuliffe
Eoin O'Connell		Paudie Allen		Jamie Hayes
Billy Lane		Gavin Forde		Alan Ryan
	David Enright		Patrick Kelly
Daniel Culloty		Jacko Flaherty		Vinny Molloy
Luke McCarthy		Donal Hannon		Nicky Barrett
Subs: Michael Cottrell, Daniel O’Doherty.