Newmarket break battling Aghada’s resistance
Newmarket 2-10 Aghada 0-11
NEWMARKET broke the resistance of a battling Aghada to maintain their unbeaten run after a competitive Bons Secour Co. Premier IFC Group A tussle at Grenagh last Sunday.
Two goals inside a minute following a second water break turned a delicately balanced contest on its head and in favour of the Duhallow side. By the end of the hour, Newmarket won because of their ability to pounce for the brace of goals, the concession proved the final straw that broke Aghada’s resolve.
Showing their true grit in recovering from handing the initiative to their opponents, Newmarket’s position looked precarious only for recover and overturn a two point deficit. Ultimately, a fully deserved victory for Newmarket, over the hour, they played the more effective and cohesive football together with enjoying a greater share of possession.
Prior to the game, Newmarket’s cause wasn’t helped by the loss of three injured players Aidan Browne, John Ryan and Kevin O’Sullivan that started in their opening assignment on defeating Na Piarsaigh.
At stages during, the Duhallow side faced a massive challenge and in fairness, their response was impressive, a quality that thrilled selector David Quinlan.
“We expected a competitive encounter, Aghada are always tough, previously at senior level, there were close championship tussles between the sides with results going either way by narrow margins. There were experienced and first choice players missing on this occasion but the guys that came in had a job to perform,” he said.
“Falling two points, we had to dig deep, Tony Charlie (O’Keeffe) introduction as a substitute worked a dream, he is playing in his fourth decade, a brilliant assist led to the opening goal and that opened the gate. Still, its one game at a time, Castletownbere will be buoyed by their win and it sets up an intriguing conclusion to the last game in the group stages,” said Quinlan.
Early on, Newmarket had settled to their task, Mikie Browne, Paudie Allen, Bart Daly and TJ Brosnan presided over with calmness and authority in defence with Conor O’Keeffe and Donal Hannon full of invention in attack to allow their side forge ahead.
At times, Aghada offered nice touches but struggled for scores, despite enjoying good possession, they lacked the necessary penetrative powers to put a solid Newmarket rearguard under pressure. However the initial water break allowed Aghada settle and well worked points from Kevin O’Hanlon, Tim Harnett and Charlie Terry trimmed the arrears 0-6 to 0-4 at the break.
That momentum carried into the second half, Terry and Michael Russell dominating the centre, the pair stormed forward to put points on the board to alter matters in favour of Aghada, leading 0-10 to 0-8 at the water break.
In dramatic fashion, a rejuvenated Newmarket resumed, Daniel Culloty and Tony O’Keeffe linking up for Hannon to blast home. And straight from the kickout, Newmarket again won possession, Ryan O’Keeffe setting up Barry O’Connor to show a clear pair of heels and apply a smooth finish.
Those strikes proved the match defining scores and despite losing defender Allen to a second yellow card, Newmarket were in the driving seat with Aghada failing to recover from the crippling blows.
Victory puts Newmarket in a favourable position to progress to the knockout stage ahead of meeting Castletownbere in the concluding game to the preliminary series. Aghada also remain in contention where the outcome to their engagement against Na Piarsaigh will determine their fate.
NEWMARKET: J O’Keeffe; M Browne, A Ryan, P Browne; B Daly, TJ Brosnan, P Allen; M Cottrell 0-1, C Browne; D O’Keeffe, C O’Keeffe 0-4(0-3f), D Hannon 1-3(0-2f); D Culloty, R O’Keeffe 0-1, B O’Connor 1-1 Subs: T O’Keeffe for D O’Keeffe (40), D Cottrell
for D Culloty (53inj), T Murphy for B O’Connor (61)
AGHADA: R Savage; J O’Donoughue, E Leahy, K O’Shea; T Harnett 0-1, D Phelan, A Stafford; M Russell 0-1, C Terry 0-3; A Berry, P O’Neill, C Fleming 0-1; K O’Hanlon 0-2, J Looney, D Creedon 0-3f Subs: R Power for J O’Donoughue (35), S Bennett for
J Looney (48), J O’Hanlon for D
Creedon (50), S Dorney for A Stafford (50)
REFEREE: C Walsh (Nemo Rangers)