The Newmarket senior footballers opened their Cork Credit Unions league campaign with a solid win over fellow Duhallow men, Ballydesmond, on a bright and crisp Sunday morning last.

Early points from Conor and Ryan O’Keeffe, as well a score from Michael Cottrell, gave the home side a 0-05 to 0-02 advantage, after 15 minutes. In a low scoring opening half, a John Ryan 26th minute point meant Newmarket held a narrow 0-06 to 0-04 lead at the break.

A whirlwind start to the second half saw Newmarket add an unanswered 1-04 in the opening six minutes through points from Cathal Browne, Darren O’Keeffe and Ryan O’Keeffe, with Conor O’Keeffe contributing 1-01, in the period. A John Ryan point on 42 minutes cancelled out an earlier Ballydesmond score, to maintain his side’s strong position. Ballydesmond narrowed the gap slightly at the 45 minute mark, but the contest was put beyond doubt two minutes later, when Conor O’Keeffe netted his second goal. A late brace from the visitors, left the Newmarket scoreboard showing 2-11 to 0-08, with time almost up. Yet, there was just enough on the clock for the 2021 PIFC championship top scorer, Conor O’Keeffe, to complete his impressive hat-trick. The afternoon’s scoring was rounded off by Cathal Browne, confirming Newmarket’s 3-12 to 0-08 opening round win.

The Newmarket team and scorers…

Conor O’Keeffe (3-04, 2f), Ryan O’Keeffe (0-02, 1f), Cathal Browne (0-02), John Ryan (0-02), Darren O’Keeffe (0-01), Michael Cottrell (0-01).

Josh O'Keeffe
Paddy Browne		Alan Ryan		Gavin Forde
T. J. Brosnan		Jamie Hayes		Daniel Norton
	Michael Cottrell		Cathal Browne
John Ryan		Kevin O'Sullivan		Barry O'Connor
Conor O'Keeffe		Ryan O'Keeffe		Darren O'Keeffe
Subs: Colin O'Sullivan, Eddie Allen, Daniel Culloty