Mac Carthaigh goal seals Cill na Martra win over Newmarket and final spot
Cill na Martra 2-12 Newmarket 0-10
CILL na Martra took a spell to shut out a determined Newmarket effort before grabbing a comfortable victory in the County Junior B Football Championship semi-final in Macroom last Friday night.
The finer aspects saw the good epitomised by the structure Cill na Martra brought to the assignment, tacking task with great enthusiasm and emerged clearly the better of the two sides.
Newmarket battled gamely all through and deserve credit for pushing their opponents to the latter stages. But no matter what the Duhallow side threw at them, Cill na Martra simply refused to be defeated and a goal from Dean Mac Carthaigh in the 50th min. helped seal a passage to the decider against Cobh.
Cill na Martra were switched on right from the throw in, Damien Ó hUrdail obliging with a pair of pointed frees with Stiofáin Conaill also on target. Indeed the Gaeltacht outfit possessed a slicker and competent side, enjoying stellar performances from Pádraig De Brún, Seanachán Ó Loingsigh and Seanie Ó Foirreidh in defence with Cathal Mac Suibhne and Pádraig Ó Forreidh emerged leading lights at midfield.
And their prospects received a timely boost, Seánie Ó Forreidh and Eoghan Ó Ceallachair combining for the highly effective Ó hUrdail to net from close range. It proved a testing spell for Newmarket yet they responded positively on back to back points from T J Bodie.
But as the half moved on, Cill na Martra turned the screw, Ó hUrdail accurate from frees helped secure a 1-7 to 0-4 advantage at the break. Again Ó hUrdail carried his good form into the second half with another pair to stretch Cill na Martra’s grip.
Steadily Newmarket’s game sprang into action through the encouraging play of Jamie Hayes, Pa O’Brien, Eddie Allen and Bodie. Going forward, Bodie led the charge with a trio of points and another from Shane Murphy narrowed the arrears. However Cill na Martra reacted positively and an enterprising move saw De Brún place Mac Carthaigh net.
Though Newmarket answered with a Jamie Hayes point, Cill na Martra saw their task to a successful conclusion with late points to Mac Carthaigh and Ó hUrdail.
NA MARTRA: A ÓConaill; P De Brún, E Ó Ceilleahair, D O Faoláin; E Mac Lochlainn, S Ó Loingsigh, S Ó Foirreidh 0-2; C Mac Suibhne, P Ó Foirreidh; D Óg Ó Laoire, L Ó Loingsigh, C Ó Duinnín; D Ó hUrdail 1-7 (0-5f), S Ó Conaill 0-1, D Mac Carthaigh 1-2. Subs. D Ó Buchalla, D Ó Foirréidh, T Ó Duinnín.
NEWMARKET: S McAulliffe; M Murphy, J Scanlon, J Hayes 0-1; D Norton, P O’Brien 0-1, Jeremy Murphy; C O’Sullivan, R Stack; E Allen, T J Bodie 0-6, M O’Leary; S Murphy 0-2f, B Stack, N Barrett. Subs. Jack Murphy, N O’Connor, E O’Connell, A O’Callaghan, P Verling.
REFEREE: J Horgan (Gleann na Laoi)
FIXTURES
Kanturk v Kilmaley, Limerick Gaelic Grounds 2pm
Munster JAFC semi-final
Knocknagree v Sliabh gCua, Mallow 2pm
JBHL semi-final
Kilbrin v Newmarket, Meelin 2pm
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25
U21 HC semi-finals
Robert Emmets v Millstreet, Meelin 2pm Dromtariffe v Kanturk, Banteer 2pm
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26 JBFC2 Final
Dromtariffe v St. Johns, TBC