Newmarket emerged with the spoils following an entertaining Intermediate football league game at home to Ballinora on Saturday evening by 2-12 to 3-8.

Newmarket got off to the best possible start when a long delivery found John Lane closing in on goal in the opening passage of play but he was upended and from the resultant penalty Brian O’Riordan slotted the ball to the bottom corner of the net. John Ryan followed with a point before Ballinora registered their first point in the fifth minute. Newmarket impressed and team captain Tony O’Keeffe was next to point. Ballinora responded however and were on level terms at 1-2 apiece by the fourteenth minute.

Newmarket gained the impetus again and points followed from T.J. Bodie, John Ryan and Maurice Feehan before the highlight of the match in the twentieth minute. The outstanding Barry O’Leary burst out of defence on one of his several rampaging runs and set in motion a stunning movement of play which involved numerous players linking up at pace and ended with Colin O’Sullivan crashing to the net. Ballinora then had a point but Brian O’Riordan kicked a fine point to give Newmarket a six point advantage, 2-6 to 1-3 with five minutes remaining in the half. Ballinora finished the half strongly and a point was followed with a tonic goal in injury time as Newmarket went into the interval leading by 2-6 to 2-4.

Ballinora had the opening point of the second half before John Ryan converted a free for Newmarket in the fifth minute. A brace of points to the visitors had the sides level for a second time of a contest played at a fast pace and flowing from end to end. Tony O’Keeffe edged Newmarket in front again but Ballinora broke through for a third goal to take the lead for the first time at the end of the third quarter. John Ryan pointed for Newmarket as the sides exchanged points. As the game entered the final ten minutes Newmarket displayed great character and resolve throughout the field and finished in fine fashion. Nicky Flanagan and John Ryan gained parity before the industrious John Lane was rewarded for his endeavour by kicking the winning point from a free in the closing minutes and Newmarket clung on for an excellent win.

The Newmarket team was…

Niall O’Connor
Michael Kenneally		Barry O’Leary		Brian O’Riordan (1-1)
Nicky Flanagan (0-1)		Timothy Murphy		Mark Reidy
	Kevin O’Sullivan		Gerard Casey
John Ryan (0-5)		T.J. Bodie (0-1)		Maurice Feehan (0-1)
John Lane (0-1)		Colin O’Sullivan (1-0)		Tony O’Keeffe (0-2)
SUBS: Anthony Crowley, Robert Stack