Newmarket cruise into Junior ‘B’ HC decider
Newmarket 4-15 Kilbrin 2-3
NEWMARKET put together a highly efficient performance to overcome Kilbrin in the Duhallow JBHC semi-final in the Freemount staging.
The winners emerged full value for the honours for they offered the more compelling hurling throughout and their ability to score goals at the most opportune time proved crucial to the destination of the spoils. On doing so, Newmarket made a bold statement, raising their game to levels where Kilbrin failed to reach.
Newmarket had opened with a purpose and settled into a decent rthymn, at the back Aaron O’Callaghan, Josh O’Keeffe and Brendan Stack stamped their authority with Eddie Allen and Seán Meehan dictating midfield to provide a lively attack with sufficient possession to enjoy a productive return.
Their cause was boosted from a Daniel Culloty goal coupled with points to Paul Verling, David Enright and Michael Kenneally. Matters looked ominous for Kilbrin yet they received some encouragement from a goal netted by Noel O’Callaghan to narrow the arrears 1-8 to 1-1 at the break.
Indeed Kilbrin applied pressure on the resumption, helped by the encouraging play of Tomas O’Riordan, Bobby Power and Toss Mullane with O’Callaghan pointing a brace. However Newmarket quickly asserted themselves , linking play well and looking the more purposeful outfit once Cclin O’Sullivan and Meehan netted in quick succession.
While Kilbrin kept battling, they found it difficult to break down a dominant Newmarket rearguard. At the other end, Newmarket found scores more easier to obtain, their economy confirmed on Verling netting his side’s fourth goal.
Now Newmarket turned the screw, Shane Murphy and Jonathan Flaherty adding to the points tally. There was no way back from Kilbrin, a late goal from James O’Sullivan proved a case of too little too late to alter the destination of the spoils.
Apart from a brief spell either side of the interval, Newmarket always looked by far the more formidable side, ever so comfortable within themselves, the outcome sets up a date against Meelin or Banteer in the decider. NEWMARKET: S McAulliffe; J Scanlon, R Stack, A O’Callaghan; J O’Keeffe, B Stack, D Norton; E Allen, S Meehan 1-1; D Enright 0-1, J Flaherty 0-1, M Kenneally 0-1; D Culloty 1-0, C O’Sullivan 1-1, P Verling 1-8. Subs: N Barrett, B Lane, S Murphy 0-2, M O’Leary.
KILBRIN: P McMahon; J Kennedy, T O’Riordan, J O’Callaghan; B Power, T Mullane, D O’Mahony; J Corkery, T O’Brien; M Sheahan, E O’Riordan, G King; J O’Sullivan 1-0, N O’Callaghan 1-2, S Fitzgerald 0-1. Sub. G Lyons.
REFEREE: E Walsh (Freemount)