Despite a very encouraging display, Newmarket’s junior hurlers were narrowly defeated by Kilbrin in the league by 2-16 to 2-12 at Kilbrin on Tuesday evening.

Newmarket got off to a good start when the outstanding Kevin O’Sullivan converted a free from distance in the third minute. A Kilbrin point levelled the scores for the first time in the eighth minute and the sides shared the next two points with Kevin O’Sullivan again on target from a long range dead ball. Newmarket grew in confidence and points followed from John Lane, Kevin O’Sullivan and a fine solo effort from Tony O’Keeffe to leave the score at 0-5 to 0-2 after fifteen minutes.

Kilbrin hit back with an equalizing goal in the eighteenth minute and in a free flowing contest the sides again exchanged the next brace of points, with the excellent Michael Kenneally on target for Newmarket. Kilbrin gained a slender lead on getting the next point but in keeping with the trend of the half the lead would change hands on another two occasions, before the end of the half. John Lane and Tony O’Keeffe edged Newmarket in front but two Kilbrin points, the first which saw the sides level for the sixth time in the half, left the half time score at 1-6 to 0-8 in the home sides favour.

Kilbrin raced into a three point lead on adding two points within three minutes of the restart. Newmarket pointed next with a fine point from Michael Kenneally but two further Kilbrin points saw them gain a four point advantage. Barry O’Leary found the target with another fine effort but once more Kilbrin answered with a point. Newmarket’s challenge was boosted considerably when Michael Kenneally raced in on goal and produced a fine finish to the net after some fine approach play, to leave the game nicely poised at 1-11 to 1-10.

However, Kilbrin proved more clinical and they had the next three points. John Lane pointed a free for Newmarket as the game entered the closing ten minutes but once again Kilbrin pointed next to restore a four point lead. A resilient Newmarket were rewarded for their endeavours when despite going close to scoring a goal on several occasions throughout and being denied by some excellent Kilbrin goalkeeping, they found the net for a second time when Kieran Lehane met a long delivery from John Lane to flick the ball home. Within a minute, John Lane slotted over a free and once more the sides were level, 1-15 to 2-12 with just five minutes remaining. The home side hit back with a point and clinched victory with a decisive second goal in the closing minutes to finally put paid to Newmarket in a very entertaining contest.

The Newmarket team was…

Paul Verling
Donnacha Fitzpatrick		Brendan Stack		Vincent Molloy
Shane Murphy		Kevin O’Sullivan (0-3)		Robert Stack
	Colin O’Sullivan		John Lane (0-4)
Tony O’Keeffe (0-2)		Michael Kenneally (1-2)		Donnacha O’Dea
Kieran Lehane (1-0)		Barry O’Leary (0-1)		John Scanlon