Newmarket’s hurlers had their first outing of the season on Sunday afternoon and despite a home league defeat to Kilbrin by 2-17 to 0-14 they contributed to an entertaining and well contested tie.

Kilbrin raced into an early lead with two points by the fourth minute before John Ryan got Newmarket on the scoreboard with a well converted long range free. Kilbrin added a brace of points before John Ryan once more was on target from a placed ball. In the tenth minute Colin O’Sullivan slotted over a third Newmarket point but in a flash Kilbrin added to their tally at the other end.

The game flowed with pace from end to end as a highly entertaining game developed. Newmarket’s outstanding performer, Kevin O’Sullivan cut the deficit to a point again on striking a long range point but the visitors responded with a point in their next attack.

Newmarket grew in confidence and this was reflected with points from John Ryan and a fine long range point from Barry O’Leary which tied the sides for the first time at 0-6 apiece in the sixteenth minute. The high scoring rate continued with the sides swapping points as Shane Murphy levelled the game for the second time in the twentieth minute. Newmarket took the lead for the first time thanks to Kevin O’Sullivan but this lasted only moments as Kilbrin replied with a levelling score. The impressive John Ryan displayed his accuracy with two further points but on each occasion Kilbrin answered and as an excellent half of hurling concluded the sides turned over deadlocked at 0-10 apiece having been level on five different occasions during the second quarter.

The second half resumed in similar vein, with Kilbrin edging in front but Shane Murphy struck a fine equalizer from distance for Newmarket. Four minutes into the half Kilbrin found a way through the Newmarket rearguard and a clinical finish provided the first goal of the game. Kilbrin grew in stature and Newmarket struggled at this stage to add to their tally despite their valiant efforts. Kilbrin added three points and by the three quarter stage, they enjoyed a six point advantage, 1-14 to 0-11. Points from John Ryan and Kevin O’Sullivan brought Newmarket to within four points as the game entered the final ten minutes but crucially the next score was a decisive second Kilbrin goal as they took a significant lead. Newmarket did create a couple of clear cut goal scoring chances, one in each half but unfortunately were unable to avail of either. John Ryan had Newmarket’s final score of the game as Kilbrin added three of the last four points of the contest to claim victory.
The Newmarket team and scorers…

John Ryan (0-7), Kevin O’Sullivan (0-3), Shane Murphy (0-2), Barry O’Leary (0-1), Colin O’Sullivan (0-1).

Shane McAuliffe
Michael O’Leary		Billy Daly		Michael Kenneally
Donnacha Fitzpatrick		Kevin O'Sullivan		Robert Stack
	Barry O'Leary		Shane Murphy
Niall O’Connor		Tony O'Keeffe		John Ryan
Eddie Allen		Colin O'Sullivan		Nicky Flanagan
Subs: John Lane, John Scanlon, Paul Verling.