Éilis Hourigan’s
Newmarket on track for football qualification
THE NEWMARKET footballers remain on track to make the knock-out stages of the Bon Secours Premier Intermediate Football Championship after a battling win against Aghada on Sunday afternoon, August 16.
Newmarket renewed old acquaintances with Aghada, a team they played on two occasions, while both clubs occupied the senior ranks.
Like those encounters, a close match was expected, and so it turned out. Some quick-fire scoring from Hannon, Cottrell and O’Connor gave Newmaket a 0-04 to 0-01 lead at the first water break.
The Imokilly men adjusted to the resumption, to get the next two scores. A brace of late frees from Conor O’Keeffe ensured, however, that Newmarket went into the Grenagh dressing room at half time with a 0-06 to 0-04 lead.
On the commencement of the second period, the teams traded scores, with Aghada having the better of the shooting. Indeed, the Imokilly side took the lead for the first time in the contest on the 43rd minute, 0-08 to 0-09.
Coming out of the second water break, Newmarket found themselves down two points, but in two moments of teamwork brilliance, Conor O’Keeffe and Barry O’Connor hit the back of the net, leaving the score 2-08 to 0-10.
The Duhallow men closed out the game in a controlled fashion, to win 2-10 to 0-11. They now move on to play Castletownbere in round three, knowing a win will guarantee top spot in Group A and progression to the knock-out stages.
The team was as follows: Josh O’Keeffe, Mikey Browne, Alan Ryan, Paddy Browne, Bart Daly, TJ Brosnan, Paudie Allen, Cathal Browne, Mikey Cottrell, Darren O’Keeffe, Conor O’Keeffe, Donal Hannon, John Ryan, Ryan O’Keeffe and Barry O’Connor. Subs were Ben Newman, Daniel Norton, Gavin Forde, John Ryan, Tony O’Keeffe, Tim Murphy, David Cottrell, Colin O’Sullivan, Cian Crowley, Aidan Browne, Eddie Allen, Seán Murphy, Paudie O’Sullivan, Kevin O’Sullivan, Shane McAuliffe and Jeremy Murphy