Newmarket defeated neighbours Lismire on 19/08/2011 in a perfect Freemount sod in the Junior B Hurling Championship first round on a score line of 3-9 to 0-12.

A mixture of youth and experience worked well on the night and Newmarket’s ability to convert goal chances proved key to their success.

Newmarket took the lead in the first minute when Colin Stack pointed from a rebounded effort for a point. This was quickly followed by an Ian Flanagan free in the second minute. The first ten minutes set the tone for the rest of the match, a tight affair in which both teams showed great commitment and effort.

It was the tenth minute when Lismire registered their first point of the game from a placed ball. Newmarket replied instantly when David Quinlan scored a long range point. The first of Newmarket’s crucial goals came in the thirteenth minute when after a Kieran Lehane delivery, Colin Stack was out in front to gather possession, a quick turn and solo run was finished to the net via the left leg and Newmarket took up a prominent position. Lismire responded instantly with another free. A Nicky Barrett point followed to leave Newmarket in a lead of 1-4 to 0-2 after the first quarter. Lismire mounted a comeback and scored the next three points to leave two between the sides.

Newmarket were lucky to escape and had it not been for custodian John Scanlon in goals Lismire could have taken the lead. Ian Flanagan converted a free to halt the Lismire progress but only momentarily as they responded with two more points to leave just a single point between the sides. Ian Flanagan once more pointed on the stroke of halftime to leave Newmarket leading at the interval, 1-6 to 0-7 after an entertaining half of hurling.

The second half began as the first half did with a Colin Stack score; a second goal for Newmarket from close range gave them some breathing space once again, 2-6 to 0-7 after 33 minutes. A scoreless spell until the tenth minute ensued. Lismire then began to get a grip on proceedings and scored three more frees in five minutes to leave the score 2-6 to 0-10 at the three quarter stage.

Once again it was Ian Flanagan who ended Newmarket’s barren spell with a great individual point but again Lismire hit back with two points to leave just the minimum between the sides with 10 minutes remaining. This proved to be Lismire final score of the game. On 21 minutes Colin Stack completed his hat-trick with an overhead pull to finish to the back of the net. Ian Flanagan completed the scoring with two more frees and give Newmarket victory in a hard fought game of hurling, 3-9 to 0-12.

Newmarket were well served in defence on the night with a very solid defence in which full back Kieran Hayes had a fine game along with excellent defending and distribution from Shane Anthony Murphy. Ian Flanagan got some vital scores when Newmarket were under pressure. Up front Colin Stack proved instrumental chipping in with a tally of 3-1. Overall a committed and hard working Newmarket side can be happy with their efforts.
 

The Newmarket team and scorers…

Colin Stack (3-1), Ian Flanagan (0-6), David Quinlan (0-1), Nicky Barrett (0-1).

John Scanlon
Donnacha Fitzpatrick		Kieran Hayes		Billy Lane
Shane A Murphy		Anthony Crowley		Bryan O'Connell
	Ian Flanagan		Eddie Allen
Patrick Kelly		David Quinlan		Kieran Lehane
Nicky Barrett		Colin Stack		Danny O'Connell
Subs: Sean Irwin, Mattie Fitzpatrick, Allan Dugdale, Gerry Murphy, Luke McCarthy