A mixture of youth and experience worked well on the night and Newmarket’s ability to convert goal chances proved key to their success.

Newmarket took the lead in the first minute when Colin Stack pointed from a rebounded effort for a point. This was quickly followed by an Ian Flanagan free in the second minute. The first ten minutes set the tone for the rest of the match, a tight affair in which both teams showed great commitment and effort.

It was the tenth minute when Lismire registered their first point of the game from a placed ball. Newmarket replied instantly when David Quinlan scored a long range point. The first of Newmarket’s crucial goals came in the thirteenth minute when after a Kieran Lehane delivery, Colin Stack was out in front to gather possession, a quick turn and solo run was finished to the net via the left leg and Newmarket took up a prominent position. Lismire responded instantly with another free. A Nicky Barrett point followed to leave Newmarket in a lead of 1-4 to 0-2 after the first quarter. Lismire mounted a comeback and scored the next three points to leave two between the sides.

Newmarket were lucky to escape and had it not been for custodian John Scanlon in goals Lismire could have taken the lead. Ian Flanagan converted a free to halt the Lismire progress but only momentarily as they responded with two more points to leave just a single point between the sides. Ian Flanagan once more pointed on the stroke of halftime to leave Newmarket leading at the interval, 1-6 to 0-7 after an entertaining half of hurling.

The second half began as the first half did with a Colin Stack score; a second goal for Newmarket from close range gave them some breathing space once again, 2-6 to 0-7 after 33 minutes. A scoreless spell until the tenth minute ensued. Lismire then began to get a grip on proceedings and scored three more frees in five minutes to leave the score 2-6 to 0-10 at the three quarter stage.

Once again it was Ian Flanagan who ended Newmarket’s barren spell with a great individual point but again Lismire hit back with two points to leave just the minimum between the sides with 10 minutes remaining. This proved to be Lismire final score of the game. On 21 minutes Colin Stack completed his hat-trick with an overhead pull to finish to the back of the net. Ian Flanagan completed the scoring with two more frees and give Newmarket victory in a hard fought game of hurling, 3-9 to 0-12.

Newmarket were well served in defence on the night with a very solid defence in which full back Kieran Hayes had a fine game along with excellent defending and distribution from Shane Anthony Murphy. Ian Flanagan got some vital scores when Newmarket were under pressure. Up front Colin Stack proved instrumental chipping in with a tally of 3-1. Overall a committed and hard working Newmarket side can be happy with their efforts.
 

The Newmarket team and scorers…

Colin Stack (3-1), Ian Flanagan (0-6), David Quinlan (0-1), Nicky Barrett (0-1).

John Scanlon
Donnacha Fitzpatrick		Kieran Hayes		Billy Lane
Shane A Murphy		Anthony Crowley		Bryan O'Connell
	Ian Flanagan		Eddie Allen
Patrick Kelly		David Quinlan		Kieran Lehane
Nicky Barrett		Colin Stack		Danny O'Connell
Subs: Sean Irwin, Mattie Fitzpatrick, Allan Dugdale, Gerry Murphy, Luke McCarthy

In a game played in blustery cold and at times wet conditions, Lismire opened the scoring with a point in the seventh minute. Newmarket tied the scores in the next minute through Paul Verling before points from Billy Daly and Conor Cronin gave Newmarket a two point lead midway through the half. Lismire replied as they reeled off three points in succession to regain the lead. The scoring rate increased towards the end of the half. Gavin Forde brought Newmarket on terms with a converted free but Lismire edged in front moments later. The half concluded well for Newmarket as Gavin Forde added two late points to gain a narrow lead of 0-6 to 0-5.

The second half got off to a flying start as Newmarket centre half back, Michael Kenneally rampaged forward on a memorable solo run before supplying an equally spectacular finish for a superbly taken point. Conditions deteriorated and scoring opportunities became few a far between at this stage, though Newmarket were more guilty as the number of wides added up.

As the third quarter came to a conclusion, a dangerously delivered ball by Gavin Forde across to face of the Lismire goal found Paul Verling on hand to supply the finishing touch to the back of the net. Lismire scored their first point of the half after eighteen minutes but Gavin Forde restored a five point advantage on converting a free with nine minutes remaining. Newmarket dealt with the Lismire challenge with Paudie Allen and Robert Stack to the fore in defence and Gavin Forde added to his own personal tally by slotting over his sixth point of the game as the game entered the closing minutes. Lismire were committed to the end and a couple of late points ensured that Newmarket had to hold firm to the very end to ensure victory.

The Newmarket team and scorers…

Gavin Forde (0-6), Paul Verling (1-1), Michael Kenneally (0-1), Conor Cronin (0-1), Billy Daly (0-1).

Shane McAuliffe
Paudie Allen		Brendan Stack		Michael O’Leary
David Enright		Michael Kenneally		Robert Stack
	Eddie Allen		Conor Cronin
David Quinlan		Billy Daly		Jonathan Flaherty
Gavin Forde		John McSweeney		Paul Verling
Subs:

Newmarket were defeated by Lismire in the junior B hurling championship clash played in splendid sunshine at the latter’s venue on Sunday afternoon where a strong second half performance saw the home side emerge victorious by 1-14 to 0-7.

Lismire started the brighter and they hit the front thanks to three points in the opening seven minutes. Newmarket settled into the game when Seanie Francis O’Connor converted a free in the eleventh minute before impressive midfielder Liam Murphy added a fine individual point within seconds. Lismire had a fourth point but Newmarket impressed, with Liam Murphy again adding a quality score before a neat finish from Paul Verling had the sides level for the first time at 0-4 each in an entertaining contest. Lismire edged in front again but Newmarket tied the sides for a second time five minutes from the interval when the impressive Seanie Francis O’Connor landed a fine point from a difficult angle. Within a minute a pointed free from Seanie Francis O’Connor had Newmarket in front but a lively first half ended with Lismire restoring parity for the third time in the half which left the sides deadlocked at 0-6 each at half time.

Exchanges were tight in the early period of the second half but critically Lismire struck for a goal in the fourth minute and they gained impetus as a result with two points added despite some resolute defending and goalkeeping from Newmarket’s rearguard. As the end of the third quarter approached Lismire assumed further control on adding two points to enjoy a seven point advantage. Newmarket battled gamely but found a Lismire defence that was a tight unit and withstood Newmarket’s best efforts. Lismire added to their tally before Seanie Francis O’Connor eventually found the target for Newmarket in the closing minutes but it was Lismire who completed the scoring to run out clear victors in the end.

The Newmarket team was…

Kieran Hayes
William O’Flynn		Seán Irwin		David Kelly
Michael Kenneally		Brendan Stack		Denis McCarthy
	Timothy Murphy		Liam Murphy (0-2)
Timmy O’Keeffe		Seanie Francis O’Connor (0-4)		Martin O’Doherty
Paul Verling (0-1)		Billy Daly		Kieran Lehane
SUBS: John Cronin, Michael O’Callaghan, James Walsh, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Damien Kelly

After a slow start in difficult greasy conditions it was Lismire who pointed first in the eighth minute with Shane Murphy equalizing for Newmarket within a minute. Newmarket saw several chances go a begging and drop short while a more clinical Lismire added two points. Newmarket’s challenge received a fillip in the seventeenth minute when Paul Verling was well placed to receive a pass and the very impressive corner forward finished with aplomb to the bottom corner of the net for Newmarket’s first goal. The industrious Robert Stack who was prominent throughout, enhanced Newmarket’s advantage when he was on hand to gather possession and he too found the corner of the net just two minutes later. Colin O’Sullilvan added a point from distance before a Lismire point cut the arrears to 2-2 to 0-4. Newmarket had their third goal of the half when a Donnacha O’Dea free found the net before two Lismire points left the score at half time 3-2 to 0-6 in Newmarket’s favour.

The conditions impacted on the striking of the sides in the second half as scores proved difficult for both sides. Both defences were resolute with Newmarket’s rearguard in fine form throughout where Brendan Stack excelled for the hour. Shane Murphy had the first point of the half in the second minute. Only two points were scored in the next twenty minutes despite plenty of endeavour from both sides but once more it was Newmarket who squandered the better chances where they hit nineteen wides during the game while the Lismire goalkeeper was also on hand to make a number of fine saves. Fittingly enough the two scores that did register came courtesy of the excellent play of Paul Verling. Lismire added a point before Shane Murphy completed the scoring stakes in the closing minutes from Newmarket’s solitary score from a free.

The Newmarket team was…

Kieran Hayes
William O’Flynn		John McSweeney		David Kelly
Brendan Stack		Pa O’Brien		Michael Kenneally
	Donnacha O’Dea (1-0)		Timothy Murphy
Colin O’Sullivan (0-1)		Robert Stack (1-0)		Bryan O’Connell
Paul Verling (1-2)		Shane Murphy (0-3)		Sean Irwin
SUB: Billy Daly

A very youthful Newmarket side got off to the best possible start when Paul Verling shot to the net in the very first minute. Both sides were very committed in the sticky conditions and Lismire opened their account in the eleventh minute. Bryan O’Connell converted a free for Newmarket but Lismire proved more clinical in attack and three points in a four minute spell tied the sides after seventeen minutes. Lismire proceeded to take the lead by adding a further two points before the impressive Bryan O’Connell pointed for Newmarket. Lismire finished the half by adding a point before a crucial goal followed two minutes from the interval. They added another point to end the half in front by 1-8 to 1-2.

Lismire increased their advantage by adding two points within seven minutes. Conor Cronin who had a fine game for Newmarket, reduced the arrears by converting a long range free but Lismire responded with a point to maintain an eight point advantage. Newmarket grew in confidence and points followed from Darren O’Keeffe and stalwart centre half back, Kieran Hayes. As the game entered the final ten minutes the tempo increased and some fine quality scores followed. The sides exchanged four points, Newmarket answering Lismire scores on both occasions with memorable points from Conor Cronin and Bryan O’Connell. Conor Cronin rounded off the scoring for Newmarket by finding the target from a long range free but it was Lismire who had the final score to end the contest and progress to the semi final.

The Newmarket team was…

Eamon Moynihan
William O’Flynn		David Kelly		Billy Daly
Timothy Murphy		Kieran Hayes (0-1)		Brendan Stack
	T.J. Bodie		Conor Cronin (0-3)
Bryan O’Connell (0-3)		Michael Kenneally		Alan Forde
Paul Verling (1-0)		Donnacha Fitzpatrick		Martin O’Doherty
SUB: Darren O’Keeffe (0-1)

Newmarket were quick out of the blocks and led with early points from Anthony Crowley and the prolific Denys O’Brien before Lismire opened their account in the fifth minute. Robert Stack and Denys O’Brien found the range before a Lismire point left the score at 0-4 to 0-2 after a pulsating opening nine minutes. The sides exchanged a brace of points before the end of the quarter with Denys O’Brien again on target. Newmarket increased their lead once more thanks to Denys O’Brien and then Seanie Francis O’Connor before a Lismire point left the score 0-7 to 0-4 after twenty one minutes. Denys O’Brien pointed as the sides exchanged two more points but Newmarket finished an entertaining half in the ascendancy and this resulted in points from Robert Stack, Denys O’Brien and Colin O’Sullivan and they turned over in front by 0-11 to 0-5.

Lismire resumed with a point but Denys O’Brien with his seventh point of the game restored a six point advantage, seven minutes into the half. Lismire began to turn the contest in their favour and after adding a point the significant score of the game came in the forty second minute when the games solitary goal reduced the deficit to two points and another Lismire point left the score 0-12 to 1-8 at the three quarter stage. Anthony Crowley scored Newmarket’s first point in ten minutes but a free flowing Lismire thanks to two points, levelled the sides for the only time in the contest with ten minutes left to play. Two more unanswered points gave Lismire a two point advantage as Newmarket struggled to stay in the contest. Typically, Denys O’Brien found the target for Newmarket but Lismire made sure of the points in the dying moments and they ran out victors by two points.

The Newmarket team was…

Eamon Moynihan
	William O’Flynn		John Scanlon
Alan Forde		Kieran Hayes		T.J. Bodie
	Anthony Crowley (0-2)		Colin O’Sullivan (0-1)
Ian Flanagan		Denys O’Brien (0-8)		Seanie Francis O’Connor (0-1)
	Robert Stack (0-2)		Donnacha Fitzpatrick
SUBS: Martin O’Doherty, Sean Irwin, David Buckley