Newmarket all too good for Crokes

Newmarket 2-18 Croke Rovers 2-6

IMPRESSIVE Newmarket broke the stubborn resistance of Croke Rovers before running out convincing winners in the GK Engraving & Sign Design North Cork Rebel Óg U18 Hurling Plate Final hosted in Liscarroll.

Following a competitive spell for a period, Newmarket simply clicked into a higher gear to pull away from their battling opponents.

Talisman Hugh O’Connor was in inspirational form, delivering a devastating display to shoot 1-10 that confirmed the superiority of the Newmarket boys. The outcome was disappointing for Crokes comprising Castlemagner and Kilbrin, their hopes not helped on the unavailability of a number of players including injured Cork minor footballer Danny Linehan.

As the game aged, Crokes found it difficult to cope with the sheer breadth of Newmarket’s game and reeled to the sheer intensity of the victors challenge. Early on, the pendulum swung back and forth, both sides furnished strong evidence that an evenly balanced contest was in the offering.

Positive signs for Crokes saw Ronan Heffernan and Steven Hayes net goals. However, Newmarket were always a more focused force, driven on by the industry of David Cottrell, Eoin Walsh and Michael Browne.

Indeed the flow was with Newmarket, O’Connor led the way with scores with Padraig O’Sullivan and Rory Lynn also on target. To their credit Rovers never stopped trying yet there was all round acceptance that the better team prevailed to allow team captain Michael Browne accept the trophy.