Newmarket’s intermediate footballers completed their preparations for next Sunday’s championship encounter with Kiskeam, by suffering their first league defeat, away to Clyda Rovers at Mourne Abbey last Sunday by 0-10 to 0-8, after a fine late comeback.

Despite the inclement weather conditions the game was played on a superb pitch. The home side began strongly and took an early two point lead after five minutes. Newmarket missed a number of scoring opportunities before an impressive passage of play ended with midfielder Timothy Murphy surging forward to kick a seventh minute point. The home side edged further in front with a third point in the opening quarter. Playing with the aid of the breeze Clyda made their advantage pay by scoring a further three points in the final ten minutes of the half to turnover in front by 0-6 to 0-1.

Clyda resumed with a point within two minutes of the restart before Bart Daly slotted over a free for Newmarket. Clyda maintained their advantage with the next score but an improving Newmarket side replied through Timothy Murphy.

At the end of the third quarter the home side pointed to lead by 0-9 to 0-3 and seemingly take control of the contest. Newmarket despite industrious effort, found it difficult to convert chances throughout, until the final quarter. Substitute T.J. Bodie kicked a superb score with Nicky Flanagan also on target from a free. Newmarket finished very strongly in every sector, with the influential Nicky Flanagan on the mark again to leave three points between the sides with just over five minutes remaining. Bart Daly pointed next and then John Ryan kicked a super score to leave just a single point between the sides, with the game entering the final couple of minutes. Newmarket were poised to salvage a result but the home side sealed the issue with the final point of the game and win an interesting contest.

The Newmarket team was…

Niall O’Connor
Pa O’Brien		John McSweeney		Mark Murphy
Mark Reidy		Barry O’Leary		Sean Doody
	Kevin O’Sullivan		Timothy Murphy (0-2)
Bart Daly (0-2)		David O’Flynn		Maurice Feehan
John Lane		Tony O’Keeffe		John Ryan (0-1)
SUBS: Nicky Flanagan (0-2),Brian O’Riordan, T.J. Bodie (0-1), Seanie Francis O’Connor