Newmarket’s minor football team kept their league record intact with a home victory over Buttevant by 1-12 to 1-2 at Newmarket on Monday afternoon.

Gavin Forde edged the home side in front with a well taken point in the fifth minute. Both Barry O’Connor and Daniel Culloty converted frees before Buttevant pointed after seventeen minutes. Newmarket were guilty of over elaboration and sloppy defending in the nineteenth minute and the visitors took full advantage to slam home a goal to overturn the scoreboard in their favour. Newmarket recovered from this setback and some excellent link up play led to Michael Cottrell supplying the finish to tie the sides 0-4 to 1-1 after twenty minutes play.

Newmarket regained the initiative and were driven on by the outstanding displays of Paudie Allen and Donal Hannon who were prominent throughout. Danny O’Connell did well to snap over a point in a crowded goalmouth before Daniel Culloty was on target from a free. Newmarket survived a few nervy moments in defence before a second Buttevant point left Newmarket with a lead of 0-6 to 1-2 at the interval.

At times both sides play was littered with errors and wild efforts on goal with Michael Cottrell supplying a moment of quality on pointing six minutes into the half. Jonathan Flaherty surged forward from midfield to get on the scoresheet but for a spell Newmarket squandered several scoring opportunities before Paudie Allen capped a superb display with an equally memorably executed point from a difficult angle. Barry O’Connor caused problems in attack and his influence grew as the game progressed. He added his second point to stretch to lead to five points with ten minutes remaining. Newmarket took a firm stranglehold two minutes later thanks in the main to the brilliance of Donal Hannon. He fielded superbly from a Newmarket kickout and set off on a blistering solo run through the field before off loading to the well placed Daniel Culloty who supplied a wonderful finish to the corner of the net.

Newmarket completed their victory by adding another brace of points with Barry O’Connor supplying the finishing touches on both occasions.

The Newmarket team and scorers…

Daniel Culloty (1-2), Barry O’Connor (0-4), Michael Cottrell (0-2), Paudie Allen (0-1), Jonathan Flaherty (0-1), Gavin Forde (0-1), Danny O’Connell (0-1)

Eoin O'Connell
Jeremy Murphy		Jamie Hayes		Damien O'Keeffe
Con McAuliffe		Donal Hannon		Paudie Allen
	Alan Ryan		Jonathan Flaherty
Michael Cottrell		Gavin Forde		Barry O'Connor
Danny O'Connell		Daniel Culloty		Donncadha Drumm
Subs: Shane McAuliffe