An outstanding first half display in dreadful weather conditions, enabled Newmarket’s minor hurlers fashion an impressive home league victory over Kilworth by 5-17 to 1-11 at Newmarket on Thursday evening.

Lots of surface water, driving rain and a cold breeze made for the most trying of conditions, as Newmarket got off to an ideal start with Gavin Forde striking a monstrous wind assisted free straight between the posts within the first minute. Donal Hannon and Jonathan Flaherty reeled over two fine points in the next couple of minutes, before Kilworth replied with a brace of points.

Newmarket began to dominate and six points, each of fantastic quality resulted as Gavin Forde, Daniel Doherty, Barry O’Connor (twice), Donal Hannon and Jonahthan Flaherty gave the home side a tally of nine points midway through the half. Newmarket’s supremacy grew as did their overall performance despite the awful conditions.

The opening goal came after seventeen minutes with Eoin O’Connell driving a well directed ball out of defence and Jonathan Flaherty combined with Daniel O’Doherty as Donal Hannon made the most of the opportunity to tap the ball home from close range. Donal Hannon pointed a free before Jonathan Flaherty capped a superb display with another fantastic solo point.

Kilworth found a response with a point but a rampant Newmarket were relentless as talisman Donal Hannon drove home a bullet like free to the net and three further points before the break, as Newmarket built up a 2-14 to 0-3 interval advantage.

Kilworth resumed brightly and quickly knocked over a point with a goal for good measure. The potent Donal Hannon completed a hat trick of goals in the fifth minute before Adrian Carroll pointed in style. Kilworth added two points but Donal Hannon answered in similar fashion as his personal tally soared. A battling Kilworth hit three points in succession but Barry O’Connor goaled for Newmarket to nullify their response.

Newmarket rounded off their scoring with yet another Donal Hannon goal who accounted for four goals and eight points, before Kilworth finished the game with the last two points of a high scoring contest.

The Newmarket team and scorers…

Donal Hannon (4-8), Barry O’Connor (1-2),  Jonathan Flaherty (0-3), Gavin Forde (0-2), Daniel O’Doherty (0-1), Adrian Carroll (0-1).

Shane McAuliffe
Liam Birthley		Jamie Hayes		Jack Guiney
Eoin O'Connell		Paudie Allen		Danny O'Connell
	Alan Ryan		Gavin Forde
Daniel O'Doherty		Jacko Flaherty		Barry O'Connor
Adrian Carroll		Donal Hannon		Shane Carroll
Subs: Conor O’Keeffe