Original Report: The Corkman, Saturday, August 9th, 2000.

By John Joe Brosnan.

Tony O’Keeffe goal seals Newmarket win in trilling Duhallow U-21 final.

A GOAL two minutes from time sealed victory for Newmarket over Ballydesmond in a thrilling Duhallow Under 21 football final at Kiskeam last Friday evening, thus giving the club its third successive title in this grade.

Rated favourites going into the game because of their greater experience, Newmarket had to battle every inch of the way to overcome the challenge of a Ballydesmond side which shared in the credit for serving up one of the best games seen in the competition for many years.

Twice during the game it looked as if Newmarket were moving into a commanding position, but on each occasion Ballydesmond stormed back with great determination to put the issue on the line.

There was only a point between them with two minutes to go, with Ballydesmond battling mightily for the equaliser, when Newmarket got the break that clinched the game.

Ballydesmond were on the attack, moving down the left wing, when a Newmarket interception turned the play around, with a fast move down the field resulting in a dash towards the goalmouth by Colin Stack. Faced by a wall of Ballydesmond players, he laid the ball to Tony O’Keeffe, who raced in from the right of the posts to deposit a great shot in the net.

The game, favoured by fine weather conditions and a Kiskeam pitch in good condition, drew a very big attendance, and they certainly got value for money, with the play reaching a high standard and both teams fiercely committed to victory.

While Newmarket were seeking their third successive title, Ballydesmond were attempting to win the competition for the first time since 1977, when their great side of that period achieved their record breaking four in a row victories.

The question facing into the game was whether a Ballydesmond side which played very impressively in the semi final against Boherbue would be able to match a strong Newmarket combination which included many of the players who had featured in the club’s two previous wins.

And there was reason for concern among the Ballydesmond supporters in the first quarter, when Newmarket, showing all the confidence and skill that won them their previous titles, put four points on the board with out reply.

The first two were scored by Colin Stack from frees and the others by Donal Daly, one of which resulted from a clever movement along the right wing when Tony O’Keefte kicked the ball forward and Paul Stone transferred it across to Daly in a central position.

Three Ballydesmond wides from good positions left them empty handed with a quarter of an hour gone, but they opened their account with two pointed frees by Donncha O’Connor, both from a distance, and they were dominant for a ten minute spell which brought further points from Donal Kelly, Niall Fleming, David O’Sullivan and O’Connor, making it six points in all without a reply from Newmarket.

A feature of the game was the fine fielding on both sides, with a few magnificent catches by Denis Kelly and Donncha O’Connnor for Ballydesmond and Denis O’Brien for Newmarket being particularly notable.

Leading by two points after 25 minutes, Ballydesmond had the margin cut to a point (0-7 to 0-6) before the interval, with Colin Stack and Tony O’Keeffe scoring for Newmarket and Aidan Fleming responding for Ballydesmond.

The first five minutes of the second half saw Ballydesmond maintaining their point lead, with each side scoring two points. Niall Fleming had Ballydesmond’s first, embarking on a great run after having been sent away by Donal Kelly, and Aidan Fleming had the second. Newmarket’s response came from Donncha Murphy and Colin Stack (free).

The next ten minutes saw Newmarket dominating the play, and they reaped the benefit in scores. Denis O’Brien had two points, the first from a great sideline kick and the second from far out, and Colin Stack added two from frees before O’Brien landed another at the three quarter stage.

Trailing by four points, Ballydesmond seemed to be in trouble, but to their credit they rallied in great style and the tension mounted as they gained control of the play for a time and set about retrieving their fortunes. Great play by the Newmarket backs prevented them from scoring from play, but their persistence was rewarded when they won two frees, both a good distance out, which Donnacha O’Connor pointed.

With three minutes remaining Ballydesmond were awarded a penalty, which Donncha O’Connor obviously intended for the net, but the ball rose of his boot and went over the bar. That reduced the margin to a point, and the prospect of a draw loomed large.

However, Newmarket’s late goal proved the clincher to a game that was contested in exemplary style and which bodes well for the future of football in both clubs.

There were great celebrations when the championship trophy was presented to the Newmarket captain, Donncha Murphy, by Sean McAuliffe, vice chairman of the Duhallow Board.

The match was played on 3th of August in Kiskeam, Final score was Newmarket 1-13 to Ballydesmond 0-12. The team on the day was as follows:

Tadgh O’Sullivan
Pa O’Brien		Mark Murphy		David Jones
Gerard Sheahan		John Fitzpatrick		Danny Guiney
	Barry O’Leary		Denys O’Brien (0-3)
Robbie Keane		Colin Stack (0-6)		Tony O’Keeffe (1-1)
Donnacha Murphy (0-1)		Paul Stone		Donal Daly (0-2)

Ballydesmond: F O’Sullivan, S Kelleher, J Kelly, D O’Keeffe, Denis Kelly, J Healy, T Howard, Donal Kelly, M Murphy, N Fleming, D O’Connor, D O’Sullivan, O O’Calllaghan, B O’Callaghan, A Fleming.  Sub: T Fitzpatrick for O O’Callaghan.

Scorers for Ballydesmond: D O’Connor 0·6 (0-5 frees, 0-1 penalty), N Fleming 0-2, A Flemming 0-2, D Kelly, D O’Sullivan 0-1 each.:

Referee Donie O’Connor, Knocknagree.