With the final of the 2022 championship still to be decided between Newmarket and Kanturk, the 2023 season got underway for Newmarket on Friday night last, as they took on St. Marks in Meelin.

A brace of Rory Lynn points accounted for Newmarket’s early scoring, with the sides level heading towards the quarter hour mark. Hugh O’Connor registered the first of his side’s impressive haul of five goal on 14 minutes, with a point from Broin O’Keeffe minutes later giving Newmarket a 1-03 to 0-02 lead. Three points without reply from St. Marks reduced the arrears to a solitary point heading into the last five minutes of the half. Another Lynn point followed by an Ethan Hourigan goal on 26 minutes restored Newmarket’s strong position. Closing scores from Hugh O’Connor and Paudie O’Sullivan meant last year’s finalists held a comfortable 2-06 to 0-05 lead at the break.

Some quick fire scoring from Mikey Browne and Rory Lynn opened the second half, with Brion O’Keeffe grabbing Newmarket’s third goal on 36 minutes. Points from Paudie O’Sullivan and Rory Lynn extended their side’s lead and an O’Sullivan goal on 48 minutes all but finished the contest. Midfielder Kevin Daly added to the total a minute later and Rory Lynn capped off a fine performance with Newmarket’s fifth goal, confirming the 5-11 to 0-08 victory.

The Newmarket team and scorers…

Rory Lynn (1-05, 2f), Paudie O’Sullivan (1-02), Brion O’Keeffe (1-01), Hugh O’Connor (1-01, 1f), Ethan Hourigan (1-00), Mikey Browne (0-01), Kevin Daly (0-01).

Dara Weathers
	Sean Murphy		Michael Lane
Eoin Walsh		Mikey Browne		David Cottrell
	Hugh O'Connor		Kevin Daly
Ethan Hourigan		Paudie O'Sullivan		Peter Goggin
	Rory Lynn		Brion O'Keeffe
Subs: Eoin Goggin, Graham Cottrell, Gavin Fleming, Cillian Saville