Aghabullogue and Rockchapel seek to improve

ROCKCHAPEL and Aghabullogue hope to prolong their involvement in the County IFC on the prospect of a cracking Round 4 replay to the Mourneabbey double bill on Saturday.

When the sides clashed last Saturday, Aghabullogue failed to build upon a productive start to allowed their Duhallow opponents erase a nine point interval deficit. In the overall context, Rockchapel came to terms with the power and pace of Aghhabullogue and two second half goals from Seamus Hickey and Brendan Cahill helped force stalemate.

Aghabullogue had clicked into gear from the outset, Mark Long, Matthew Bradley and John Corkery in superb form, their efforts rewarded from a David Thompson goal to help secure a 1-8 to 0-2 interval advantage.

Typical of Rockchapel, they threw caution to the wind on the restart, Hickey, Liam Collins and Daniel Curtin powering into the fray. Playing the more effective and cohesive football, a greater share of possession and an ability to finish off scoring opportunities helped to share the spoils.

Plenty of food for thought in both camps during the past few days and it goes without saying, its the side that will perform more consistently over the hour will advance to a meeting against Ballydesmond or Mitchelstown. DUHALLOW JBHC FINAL

Newmarket 0-19 Kilbrin 1-10

NEWMARKET added a new name to the roll of honour by overcoming Newmarket in the Duhallow JBHC Final played at a wind swept Freemount on Sunday.

Taking their first title in the grade, Newmarket’s previous success with a second string side dated back 55 years ago on landing divisional honours at novice level. On this occasion, Newmarket emerged full value for their victory, operating the more compelling hurling in difficult conditions.

By the end of the hour, Newmarket were far more the better balanced and more accomplished side to allow team captain Eoghan O’Connell lift the silverware. A swirling wind made matters difficult for controlled play yet Newmarket operated with plenty of grit and determination confirmed on lead points to Paul Verling, Shane and Jack Murphy.

Though Kilbrin opened their account from a Derek Crowley point, Newmarket took a grip on the proceedings, in defence, Tim Murphy, Aidan Browne and O’Connell stepped in to take responsibility.

Elsewhere, T J Bodie and Eddie Allen held their own at midfield with Shane Murphy, Michael Cottrell and Verling enterprising up front. Indeed Newmarket gained a tangible reward for their industry, Verling, Jack Murphy and Allen on target to assume a comfortable 0-8 to 0-1 position.

Gradually Kilbrin settled and responded on points from Neilus O’Reilly and Patrick Egan to pare back the deficit 0-10 to 0-4 at the short whistle. That gave Kilbrin cause to be optimistic, again Newmarket restarted the second half brightly from a pair of points to Verling.

For a spell, Kilbrin reacted to a precarious situation, availing of an improvement generated by the play of Donal O’Mahony, Egan, O’Reilly and substitute James O’Sullivan. Points to O’Reilly and O’Sullivan offered encouragement.

However the Newmarket response was doggedly defiant, Verling pointed three frees with Shane Murphy and Cotrell also on target. In fairness, the Kilbrin response was brave, a point from Edwin Casey preceded a goal from O’Reilly.

Perhaps Newmarket had taken their foot off the pedal during the closing stages for Kilbrin added to their tally per Casey and O’Sullivan. Ultimately, it proved to be a case of too little too late and Kilbrin’s fate wads firmly sealed to allow Newmarket sample a historic win.

NEWMARKET: N Barrett; A O’Callaghan, T Murphy, M O’Leary; D Norton, A Browne, E O’Connell; E Allen 0-1, T Bodie; J Flaherty, M Cottrell 0-1, S Murphy 0-4; D O’Connell, J Murphy 0-3, P Verling 0-9. Sub: S Meehan for O’Connell

KILBRIN: J Corkery; T O’Riordan, D O’Mahony, J O’Callaghan; B Power, N Cronin, B O’Mahony; P Egan 0-1, T O’Brien; Damien Crowley, N O’Reilly 1-4(0-4f), M Sheahan; S Fitzgerald, E Casey 0-2, Derek Crowley 0-1. Sub: J O’Sullivan 0-2 for Sheahan.