Newmarket were narrowly defeated by Lyre in their second outing of the minor football league in a fine contest played at Banteer on Wednesday evening where the home side emerged victors by the slenderest of margins, 1-10 to 1-9.

An open end to end contest developed from the outset before Lyre got the first score on the board in the fifth minute. They doubled their advantage before a goal from close range gave them a clear five point advantage after twelve minutes play. Newmarket gained confidence on Vinny Molloy scoring their first point. Ivan King followed with a second point before the excellent Timmy O’Keeffe reduced the deficit to two points. Lyre had the next point but Newmarket, driven on throughout by outstanding centre half back T.J. Brosnan, replied when on one of his many rampaging forward runs he finished neatly from a narrow angle. Newmarket’s teamwork and build up play was superb at this stage and points followed from Nicky Barrett and Conor Kepple to tie proceedings. A rampaging Newmarket ended the half with the lead when once more a fine move resulted in Nicky Barrett kicking another point, and the half time whistle left the score reading 0-7 to 1-3.

Newmarket increased their lead when Timmy O’Keeffe clipped over a point but it was Lyre who gained the ascendancy at this stage. Newmarket were grateful to goalkeeper David Quinlan who produced a string of incredible saves during the game, especially in the second half when he defied logic on a few occasions to keep Lyre at bay. Eventually Lyre found their range and a succession of points gave them a three point lead. Newmarket got back into the contest on Nicky Barrett scoring his third point of the night but Lyre powered forward for the next two points to gain a four point advantage. Newmarket responded and a fine passing movement which spanned the length of the pitch ended with Conor Kepple bearing in on goal and he finished emphatically to the net. With just a point between the sides, Newmarket gave it their all but unfortunately time ran out and despite a fine effort, it was the home side that claimed the points.

The Newmarket team was…

David Quinlan
	Michael O’Leary		Jack Birtley
Billy Lane		T.J. Brosnan (0-1)		Eoin Murphy
	Conor Kepple (1-1)		David Enright
Nicky Barrett (0-3)		Timmy O’Keeffe (0-2)		Vinny Molloy (0-1)
	Luke McCarthy		Ivan King (0-1)
SUBS: Timmy O’Flynn, Daniel Culloty, Gavin Forde, Donal Hannon, Paudie Allen