Junior Bs take Duhallow double
THE NEWMARKET Junior Bs added the divisional football honours to the hurling title after overcoming Rockchapel in an exciting contest on Sunday evening last.
Unlike the previous meeting in the group stages, the match was a low-scoring, tense affair, with defences dominant early on.
At the first water break, Newmarket led 0-02 to 0-01 after points from
TJ Bodie and Eddie Allen. A further well-taken score from Nicky Barrett followed shortly after the resumption.
On 26 minutes, Rockchapel got what was a key score, with a well-taken goal dispatched to the Newmarket net, to leave it 1-02 to 0-03.
Two expertly dispatched frees by TJ Bodie late into the half, ensured the sides were level at the interval.
Into the second period the teams traded early points, with TJ Bodie on target for Newmarket.
In an energy-sapping afternoon, both sides began to use their bench. Shane Murphy, Colin O’Sullivan and Jack Murphy entered the fray for Newmarket, with Jack making an immediate impact; he scored a point and had an excellent effort on goal saved by the Rockchapel keeper.
The match entered the much-needed final water break, with the Freemount scoreboard reading 0-07 to 1-04.
Following a defensive period, Jack Murphy again popped up on 54 minutes to give his side the lead by a single point. Further Newmarket scores by TJ Bodie and Shane Murphy, and a point from the opposition, meant Rockchapel needed an injury time goal for victory. Newmarket held firm and saw out the game and sealed the Championship, 0-10 to 1-05. Congratulations to the team and their mentors on a great win! Ath Trasna Abu!
Team: Shane McAuliffe, Donnacha Fitzpatrick, Brendan Stack, Mikey O’Leary, Daniel Norton, Gavin Forde, Sean Murphy, Robert Stack, Cian Crowley, Paudie O’Sullivan, Pa O’Brien, Eddie Allen, Nicky Barrett, Michael Kenneally, TJ Bodie.