Meelin hurlers hit Newmarket for seven to take Junior League title

Meelin 7-13 Newmarket 0-8

ALL plain sailing for a sharper Meelin on cruising past Newmarket in the Duhallow Junior B Hurling League Final in Meelin on Saturday.

Quite simply, the home side were in a different class, from start to finish, Meelin controlled the game and never relented in their search of scores. Indeed Meelin hurled with a fluency that was bound to produce scores and help claim league honours for the first time since 2007.

In stark contrast, Newmarket laboured in many sectors and given the latter end of a long playing season, they failed to deal with the pace and attacking verve of a much sharper Meelin.

Straight from the off, Meelin ruled and put their stamp on the game with a pair of quick fire goals from Shane Brosnan and James Forrest.

Newmarket attempted to get up to the speed of the proceedings and availed of encouraging points from Paul Verling and Jack Guiney.

Still Meelin held a far greater tempo and urgency to their hurling through the workrate of T J Twomey, Brendan O’Sullivan and William Buckley with Jeremiah Curtin, Brosnan and Forrest in the thick of the action up front that helped Meelin enjoy a 2-10 to 0-4 advantage at the break.

Newmarket resumed with more urgency on the restart as Darren O’Keeffe and Verling landed much needed points. Still Meelin refused to be knocked off course to regain the upperhand with Brosnan and Forrest adding goals.

The signs were really ominous for Newmarket as they attempted to curb the momentum of the hosts. Bar conceding a couple of points, there was no stopping a rampant Meelin who underlined their class to finish on the ascendency with additional goals netted by Forrest, Muiris Daly and Nicholas Linehan

rubberstamped a highly impressive performance to complete their 4th outright title.

MEELIN: J Duane; S Geaney, C Murphy, J Wharton; W Buckley, T J Twomey, B O’Sullivan; J O’Sullivan, M O’Keeffe; S Brosnan 2-2, J Curtin 0-2, B Collins; N Linehan 1-2, J Forrest 3-4 (1-2f), D J O’Sullivan 0-2. Subs: P O’Sullivan, L O’Sullivan 0-1, M O’Callaghan, M Daly 1-0, D Curtin.

NEWMARKET: S McAulliffe; D Fitzpatrick, J Scanlon, E O’Connell; D Norton, J Hayes, R Stack; D O’Keeffe 0-1, J Guiney 0-1; C Browne, M Cottrell 0-1, M Kenneally; P Verling 0-5, C O’Sullivan, R O’Keeffe.

REFEREE: D Hickey (Millstreet)