Footballers open championship with a ‘near death’ experience

ON Sunday last our Intermediate footballers opened their championship campaign when they faced last season’s county finalists, Fermoy, at Buttevant.

Newmarket had come into this game unbeaten in competive games this season against an Avondhu side with two present Cork senior players.

As the first half ended Fermoy held sway with a 0-4/0-7 lead, Newmarket points coming from Daniel Cullotty (2), TJ Brosnan and Barry O’Connor.

Cullotty opened the second half scoring with a point in the opening minute, this was followed by four successive points from Fermoy.

Michael Cottrell cut the deficit in the 43rd minute. A goal from Bart Daly, followed by points from Conor O’Keeffe and Cullotty brought the sides level in the 53rd minute.

Fermoy upped the ante with points in the 53rd and 58th minutes, and were two points up almost on the stroke, when Cullotty found the net for as dramatic a victory as the club has ever seen in a championship game in their storied history.

Final score: Newmarket 2-10, Fermoy 0-15

Line-out: David Quinlan, Paudie Allen, John Ryan, Aiden Browne, Gavin Forde, Bart Daly, Alan Ryan, T J Brosnan, Michael Cottrell, Donal Hannon, Daniel Cullotty, Tony O’Keeffe, Kevin O’Sullivan (capt) Conor O’Keeffe, Barry O’Connor; subs: Ryan O’Keeffe and Darren O’Keeffe for Forde and O’Connor

Scorers: D Cullotty 1-4, B Daly 1-1, B O’Connor, T J Brosnan, M Cottrell, A Browne and C O’Keeffe 0-1 each.

Newmarket will play either Macroom or Naomh Aban in the next round.

Fixture: Sunday next, JAH League, Newmarket V Banteer at Newmarket, 12 noon; Duhallow JAHC, Newmarket V Kanturk at Castlemagner on Sunday, April 30 at 7pm.