Newmarket were defeated by Banteer in the opening round of the Duhallow Under 21 hurling championship at the latter’s venue on Saturday evening where the home side emerged victors by 2-15 to 1-8.

Banteer were quick off the mark and pointed in the second minute. Newmarket gained parity in the fifth minute thanks to a Bryan O’Connell point. The sides then exchanged points with John Lane supplying a second equalizer for Newmarket in the tenth minute. Newmarket gained the lead in the thirteenth minute when a sideline cut from Conor Cronin was flicked on by Robert Stack towards John Lane who played a wonderful crossfield pass to the onrushing Kevin O’Sullivan who caught the ball and raced in on goal before supplying a fine finish to the Banteer net for an excellent team goal. It was Banteer however who gained the impetus and they began to take control. Three points in a row had the sides level for a third time at 0-5 to 1-2 after twenty one minutes. Newmarket’s defence were under incessant pressure as Banteer added two further points. Four minutes before the break they eventually found a way past Newmarket’s excellent goalkeeper Paul Verling, who after producing a number of fine saves was finally beaten. Another Banteer point resulted in a spell that yielded a goal and six points without reply. Newmarket recovered late in the half and were denied a goal before John Lane pointed a free which left the score reading 1-8 to 1-3 at half time.

Banteer enjoyed the better of the opening period in the second half and after pointing in the fourth minute in their next attack they engineered their second goal of the game to enjoy a nine point advantage. Newmarket pointed when the impressive Conor Cronin found the target from long range before John Lane added a free. The sides exchanged two points as Newmarket provided plenty of endeavour throughout the half with John Lane on target. As the game entered the closing period Banteer were more clinical and added a string of points in the final minutes with John Lane adding two points for Newmarket in this final spell of the game.

The Newmarket team was…

Paul Verling
William O’Flynn		John Scanlon		Nicky Flanagan
David Kelly		Brendan Stack		Kevin O’Sullivan (1-0)
	Conor Cronin (0-1)		John Ryan
John Lane (0-6)		Robert Stack		Ian Flanagan
Kieran Lehane		Bryan O’Connell (0-1)		Billy Daly
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