Newmarket’s intermediate footballers recorded their second league victory of the campaign after an impressive display led to a home victory over Macroom by 2-11 to 2-9 on Sunday afternoon.

Newmarket got off to a good start and an early attack yielded a free which John Ryan slotted over the bar in the second minute. Macroom were on terms by the fifth minute and they added two points to their tally by the tenth minute. Newmarket were well in the contest but failed to take their scoring opportunities as they presented themselves. Macroom on the other hand were clinical and crashed home a goal in the thirteenth minute and by the twentieth minute two further points left them with a very sizeable advantage, 1-5 to 0-1. Newmarket eventually found the scores their play merited and it was the impressive Nicky Flanagan who kicked over two well taken frees that set a comeback in motion. John Ryan kicked a spectacular point after some excellent approach play in the twenty fourth minute as Newmarket built up a period of dominance.

Two minutes later some gritty determination forced an error in the Macroom defence from which John Lane placed full forward Denys O’Brien in on goal and he made no mistake to blaze the ball to the net. Newmarket completed the half with another notable score with Bart Daly on hand to find the target with a sublime finish and tie the sides at 1-5 apiece at the interval, as Newmarket wiped out a seven point deficit in as many minutes.

As the second half resumed, Macroom regained the early initiative and three points followed in seven minutes to re-establish their advantage. Newmarket impressed throughout the pitch for the majority of the game and one of the leading lights, Kevin O’Sullivan landed a spectacular point with Nicky Flanagan again showing some fine accuracy to cut the deficit to a solitary point as an exciting and free flowing contest entertained those present.

Macroom pointed next but Kevin O’Sullivan pointed again before Nicky Flanagan established parity again at 1-9 apiece with twelve minutes remaining. Newmarket gained the impetus with their half back line and midfield pairing of Barry O’Leary and Mark Murphy the launching pad as they created a succession of possession for the forwards. Significantly the next score of the game was a goal, as Newmarket substitute T.J. Bodie finished to the net from a rebound after seeing his initial shot stopped by the Macroom goalkeeper, to give his side the advantage for the first time in the contest as the game entered the final ten minutes. Newmarket strengthened their position as Barry O’Leary and John Ryan added well deserved points and the confidence was evident in an excellent team performance. A solid defence was breached in the final moments as Macroom were awarded a penalty which they duly converted but Newmarket held on for a well deserved victory.

The Newmarket team and scorers…

Nicky Flanagan (0-4), John Ryan (0-3), T.J. Bodie (1-0),Denys O’Brien (1-0), Kevin O’Sullivan (0-2),Bart Daly (0-1), Barry O’Leary (0-1).

Niall O’Connor
Michael O’Leary		Gerard Casey		David O’Flynn
Conor Cronin		Brian O’Riordan		Bart Daly
	Barry O'Leary		Mark Murphy
John Ryan		Tony O'Keeffe		Kevin O'Sullivan
John Lane		Denys O'Brien		Nicky Flanagan
Subs: T.J. Brosnan, T.J. Bodie (1-0), Shane Murphy, Timothy Murphy, Eddie Allen.