Newmarket got off to a good start and an early attack yielded a free which John Ryan slotted over the bar in the second minute. Macroom were on terms by the fifth minute and they added two points to their tally by the tenth minute. Newmarket were well in the contest but failed to take their scoring opportunities as they presented themselves. Macroom on the other hand were clinical and crashed home a goal in the thirteenth minute and by the twentieth minute two further points left them with a very sizeable advantage, 1-5 to 0-1. Newmarket eventually found the scores their play merited and it was the impressive Nicky Flanagan who kicked over two well taken frees that set a comeback in motion. John Ryan kicked a spectacular point after some excellent approach play in the twenty fourth minute as Newmarket built up a period of dominance.

Two minutes later some gritty determination forced an error in the Macroom defence from which John Lane placed full forward Denys O’Brien in on goal and he made no mistake to blaze the ball to the net. Newmarket completed the half with another notable score with Bart Daly on hand to find the target with a sublime finish and tie the sides at 1-5 apiece at the interval, as Newmarket wiped out a seven point deficit in as many minutes.

As the second half resumed, Macroom regained the early initiative and three points followed in seven minutes to re-establish their advantage. Newmarket impressed throughout the pitch for the majority of the game and one of the leading lights, Kevin O’Sullivan landed a spectacular point with Nicky Flanagan again showing some fine accuracy to cut the deficit to a solitary point as an exciting and free flowing contest entertained those present.

Macroom pointed next but Kevin O’Sullivan pointed again before Nicky Flanagan established parity again at 1-9 apiece with twelve minutes remaining. Newmarket gained the impetus with their half back line and midfield pairing of Barry O’Leary and Mark Murphy the launching pad as they created a succession of possession for the forwards. Significantly the next score of the game was a goal, as Newmarket substitute T.J. Bodie finished to the net from a rebound after seeing his initial shot stopped by the Macroom goalkeeper, to give his side the advantage for the first time in the contest as the game entered the final ten minutes. Newmarket strengthened their position as Barry O’Leary and John Ryan added well deserved points and the confidence was evident in an excellent team performance. A solid defence was breached in the final moments as Macroom were awarded a penalty which they duly converted but Newmarket held on for a well deserved victory.

The Newmarket team and scorers…

Nicky Flanagan (0-4), John Ryan (0-3), T.J. Bodie (1-0),Denys O’Brien (1-0), Kevin O’Sullivan (0-2),Bart Daly (0-1), Barry O’Leary (0-1).

Niall O’Connor
Michael O’Leary		Gerard Casey		David O’Flynn
Conor Cronin		Brian O’Riordan		Bart Daly
	Barry O'Leary		Mark Murphy
John Ryan		Tony O'Keeffe		Kevin O'Sullivan
John Lane		Denys O'Brien		Nicky Flanagan
Subs: T.J. Brosnan, T.J. Bodie (1-0), Shane Murphy, Timothy Murphy, Eddie Allen.

Macroom aided by a strong and significant breeze, stormed into action with two points in the first five minutes while they came close to finding the net on three separate occasions. Newmarket withstood this early barrage and grew in confidence as the half developed. T.J. Bodie brought the sides level by the seventeenth minute thanks to two points in four minutes. Newmarket were now the dominant side with some excellent link up play through all sectors of the pitch. David O’Flynn gave Newmarket the lead for the first time and a fine spell yielded further converted points from T.J. Bodie and Nicky Flanagan. Macroom ended the half with a point but Newmarket turned over having withstood the elements in front by 0-5 to 0-2.

Macroom made light of the conditions and within six minutes three quickfire points overturned the lead. They maintained their superiority throughout the half and two further scores gave them a clear three point lead. Newmarket in a rare foray forward found the target with Tony O’Keeffe kicking a splendid point. When T.J. Bodie converted a free with eleven minutes to play, just a solitary point separated the sides, 0-8 to 0-7. It was Macroom though, however who powered to victory and five unanswered points in the closing ten minutes resulted in a clear victory.

The Newmarket team was…

Niall O’Connor
Anthony Crowley		Barry O’Leary		Mark Murphy
Timothy Murphy		Denys O’Brien		Brian O’Riordan
	Gerard Casey		Kevin O’Sullivan
David O’Flynn (0-1)		Tony O’Keeffe (0-1)		Maurice Feehan
John Lane		T.J. Bodie (0-4)		Nicky Flanagan (0-1)
SUB: Michael Kenneally

Macroom took the lead thanks to a second minute point but a long period of play followed without a score with both defences on top, the Newmarket backs were under intense pressure at times, but performed admirably. Macroom then added a second point in the thirteenth minute and followed this with another quick brace of scores. Newmarket eventually got off the mark in the nineteenth minute when John Lane slotted over a free. Another eight minutes elapsed without a score but as the half concluded, Macroom added two points. Newmarket finished the half with a second point after a mammouth kickout from goalkeeper Niall O’Connor was latched onto by John Ryan who laid the ball off to the onrushing T.J. Bodie and he kicked over a fine point.

Newmarket tried hard to reduce the deficit upon the restart but it was Macroom who added to their tally thanks to two points. John Ryan pointed a free in the fortieth minute as again both defences held their opponents at bay for the next eight minutes. The game was put beyond Newmarkets reach when Macroom were then awarded a penalty. Despite an incredible double save from Newmarket goalkeeper Niall O’Connor, Macroom eventually found a way past the brilliant custodian at the third attempt. Two points followed as Cork senior panellist Fintan Gould landed a couple of spectacular scores. Newmarket kept battling and were rewarded with a strong finish. Team captain kicked over a fine point before then converting a long range free. John Ryan kicked over another point but Macroom completed the proceedings with a terrific last point to run out clear victors.

Newmarket will reflect on a memorable year in this grade after regaining the Duhallow title. Well done to all involved and to their team of mentors.

The Newmarket team was…

Niall O’Connor
David Guiney		Paul Cashman		Brian O’Riordan
Robert Stack		Bart Daly (0-2)		Sean Doody
	Kevin O’Sullivan		Timothy Murphy
John Ryan (0-2)		T.J. Bodie (0-1)		Michael Kenneally
Nicky Flanagan		Ian Flanagan		John Lane (0-1)
SUBS: Ricky Reidy, William Lehane