Following a mixed 2022 league campaign, the Newmarket senior footballers travelled to Bantry aiming to start the year on a positive note.

 

Hugh O’Connor opened the early morning scoring with a point from a well taken mark. As with much of the first half, the game was level soon after, with the home side opening their account. Kevin O’Sullivan doubled Newmarket’s tally on eight minutes with Bantry taking a 0-02 to 0-04 lead moments later. The key score came on twelve minutes when Michael Cottrell finished a chance to the home side’s net. Further points from Hugh O’Connor and Conor O’Keeffe helped Newmarket edge in front, with an O’Connor free just before half time, stretching the lead to 1-05 to 0-06.

 

Despite ample scoring opportunities, the second half failed to register regularly in the referee’s notebook. Newmarket led by a goal at the quarter hour mark through additional points from Ryan O’Keeffe and Barry O’Connor. This gap was maintained towards the closing stages with Barry and Hugh O’Connor contributing to the scoreboard. The home side did register the last score of the game but it wasn’t enough to overhaul Newmarket, who won out 1-09 to 0-10 on the crisp February morning.

The Newmarket team and scorers…

Hugh O’Connor (0-04, 3f), Mikey Cottrell (1-0), Barry O’Connor (0-02), Kevin O’Sullivan (0-01), Conor O’Keeffe (0-01), Ryan O’Keeffe (0-01)

Josh O'Keeffe
Mikey Browne		Alan Ryan		Paudie Allen
Aidan Browne		T. J. Brosnan		Bart Daly
	Mikey Cottrell		Cathal Browne
Darren O'Keeffe		Kevin O'Sullivan		Barry O'Connor
Conor O'Keeffe		Hugh O'Connor		Ryan O'Keeffe
Subs: Gavin Forde, Paddy Browne, John Ryan, David Cottrell, Daniel Norton