Newmarket’s senior footballers endured their first league defeat in their third outing following a disappointing performance against Eire Og at sun drenched Ovens on Sunday afternoon where the home side earned a clear 1-13 to 1-5 victory.

The home side swept in front within seconds of the throw in but the vast open spaces of the playing surface and some tight defences ensured a fourteen minute scoreless period followed, despite the constructive endeavours of both sides. Newmarket found an equalizer midway through the half thanks to the exploits of the outstanding John Lane who splendidly engineered a position to punch a point after a rampaging solo run. Eire Og hit the front for a second time before once again John Lane tied the sides on pointing despite being unbalanced whist shooting at the posts. Newmarket created several good scoring opportunities but failed to capitalize on clear goal and point chances and suffered as a far more economical Eire Og fired over three points in as many minutes to establish a lead. Newmarket concluded the half with a pointed free through T.J. Bodie which left the hosts with an advantage of 0-5 to 0-3 at the half time whistle.

A similar pattern emerged in the second half as again Newmarket saw several attempts drift either side of the uprights despite the endeavours of amongst others Denys O’Brien, the tireless working Tony O’Keeffe and the on song John Lane. Indeed the only score for nineteen minutes of the second half came nine minutes into the half when Eire Og were awarded a contentious penalty following some last gasp defending from which Newmarket emerged with the ball. The penalty was converted and as game entered the final ten minutes the first point of the half from Eire Og gave them a six point lead. They added another point before Newmarket had a rare moment of joy with seven minutes remaining. T.J. Brosnan surged into attack and together with impressive substitute Daniel Culloty they combined to link up with T.J. Bodie and he bundled the ball to the net from close range.

Eire Og’s response was clinical as three quickfire points regained a commanding seven point lead. T.J. Bodie and John Lane were on target as the teams traded four points but a convincing win for Eire Og was confirmed with one final point.

The Newmarket team and scorers…

T.J. Bodie (1-2), John Lane (0-3).

David Quinlan
John Ryan		Denys O'Brien		Brian O’Riordan
Sean Doody		Timothy Murphy		T. J. Brosnan
	Conor Cronin		Colin O'Sullivan
Ian Flanagan		Kevin O'Sullivan		Tony O'Keeffe
T.J. Bodie		Michael Kenneally		John Lane
Subs: Daniel Culloty, Paudie Allen, John Cronin and Gavin Forde