Newmarket edged past Kanturk in a thrilling junior B hurling league quarter final played at Newmarket on Sunday morning, a memorable contest ending 2-19 to 3-12.

Newmarket started brightly with Denys O’Brien in sparkling form, hitting over three points and David Buckley also on target to establish a four point lead after eleven minutes. Kanturk opened their account in the twelfth minute and two further points reduced the deficit to a minimum after eighteen minutes. Shane Murphy slotted over a point for Newmarket but Kanturk burst through the Newmarket defence a minute later and an emphatic finish resulted in the games first goal. A converted free from Seanie Francis O’Connor tied the sides for the first time in the twenty first minute, while some superb enterprising play from Donnacha Fitzpatrick was rewarded when he laid the ball off to David Buckley and he pointed to re-establish Newmarket’s lead.

Kanturk restored parity before taking the lead for the first time in the twenty sixth minute and a third successive point gave them a two point advantage. Newmarket were buoyed in the late stages of the half when a fine effort from Shane Murphy hit the butt of an upright, and David Buckley was on hand to finish to the net from close range. An entertaining half ended with Newmarket enjoying a slender lead, 1-7 to 1-6.

Kanturk resumed in the best possible manner when they scored their second goal within two minutes. Denys O’Brien replied with a point for Newmarket but Kanturk went on to score the next two points to establish a three point margin. Denys O’Brien pointed a free as the sides exchanged points and Kanturk led by 2-9 to 1-9, ten minutes into the half. Newmarket upped their performance at this stage and were rewarded with points from Anthony Crowley and Seanie Francis O’Connor. Kanturk pointed next but points from Seanie Francis O’Connor and Robert Stack tied the sides for a third time.

At the end of the third quarter the game was tied, 1-13 to 2-10. Kanturk regained the lead thanks to their third goal but amazingly Newmarket struck back when the outstanding Colin O’Sullivan sent a dropping ball into the edge of the square and Robert Stack doubled on it to score a superb equalizing goal. Newmarket were inspired by this score and regained the lead thanks to points from Seanie Francis O’Connor and a fine effort from Colin O’Sullivan. Kanturk fought back and halved the arrears and as the game entered the final five minutes, the score read 2-15 to 3-11. Once more the sides exchanged points, Seanie Francis O’Connor first off the mark for Newmarket. The home side finished in the ascendancy and managed to claim victory thanks to a succession of points from Donnacha Fitzpatrick, Denys O’Brien and Seanie Francis O’Connor completed this very high scoring contest when knocking over a free in the dying moments.

The Newmarket team was…

Eamon Moynihan
William O’Flynn		John Scanlon		David Kelly
Brendan Stack		Kieran Hayes		Anthony Crowley (0-1)
	Seanie Francis O’Connor (0-6)		Colin O’Sullivan (0-1)
Shane Murphy (0-1)		Denys O’Brien (0-6)		Robert Stack (1-1)
Donnacha Fitzpatrick (0-1)		David Buckley (1-2)		Ian Flanagan
SUB Timothy Murphy