A pointed free from the unerring John Lane with the final puck of the game earned Newmarket a draw in their junior hurling league game against Millstreet, played in Newmarket on Tuesday evening, the game ending 0-17 to 1-14.

Kevin O’Sullivan opened the scoring on pointing a free from distance within a minute of the throw in. Millstreet hit a few early wides before John Lane increased Newmarket’s lead on scoring his first point of the night in the fifth minute.

Millstreet found the target for the first time in the tenth minute and tied the sides for the first time a minute later. The visitors were in a fine vein of form at this stage and three further points in as many minutes gave them a three point advantage after fifteen minutes. Newmarket responded and the prolific John Lane added two converted frees in as many minutes to cut the deficit back to a single point. As the half entered the closing minutes, Millstreet added a couple of points before Barry O’Leary pointed for Newmarket. The home side saw a few opportunities go wide at this stage before Millstreet completed the half with a point, to turnover with a lead of 0-8 to 0-5.

Newmarket began the second half well and John Lane added to his increasing tally with two early points. Kevin O’Sullivan, who had a commanding presence at centre half back, pointed a free from distance and restored parity at 0-8 apiece by the fifth minute of the half. Newmarket suffered a setback two minutes later when despite some resolute defending, Millstreet found a way through the rearguard to finish to the net for the games only goal. John Lane replied with a point, but two Millstreet points doubled their advantage to four points by the end of the third quarter.

Newmarket showed admirable determination at this stage and in a six minute spell three John Lane points and another from Conor Cronin had the sides level for a third time, 1-10 to 0-13 with little over eight minutes remaining. Millstreet regained the lead with two points in rapid succession but once again John Lane pointed before Colin O’Sullivan tied proceedings for a fourth time. The visitors again hit the front with two late points but once more Newmarket showed great resolve to reply. Shane Murphy pointed before talisman John Lane kept his composure to point a difficult free in the final cameo of a close and entertaining encounter.

The Newmarket team and scorers…

John Lane (0-11), Kevin O’Sullivan (0-2), Shane Murphy (0-1), Barry O’Leary (0-1), Colin O’Sullivan (0-1), Conor Cronin (0-1).

Shane McAuliffe
Michael Kenneally		Billy Daly		Michael O’Leary
Pa O’Brien		Robert Stack		Shane Murphy
	Kevin O'Sullivan		Barry O'Leary
David Quinlan		Colin O'Sullivan		Conor Cronin
Eddie Allen		John Lane		Donnacha Fitzpatrick
Subs: Nicky Barrett, Niall O’Connor, Paul Verling.