Newmarket defeated near neighbours Meelin on a score line of 2-19 to 4-12 in the Duhallow Junior B Hurling Championship played in a very good Meelin surface on Saturday evening last in an exciting encounter after extra time.

The game began in whirlwind fashion with a Meelin goal after a minute of play, quickly followed by two points. Newmarket registered their first point through Brian O’ Connell and Pa O’ Brien added another. Newmarket were dealt another blow as Meelin hit a further goal and a point to leave it 2-3 to 0-2 to the home side after the first quarter.

The teams traded points with Paul Verling on the score sheet for Newmarket. Newmarket began to get a grip on the game in the final 5 minutes of the half as Verling pointed a free but Meelin responded with two more points. Newmarket never gave in and Donnacha Fitzpatrick was rewarded for his hard work as he scored a goal a minute before the end of the half. Verling added another free to leave it 2-6 to 1-5 at the short whistle.

Newmarket took over in the second half with Paul Verling adding another pointed free. Meelin did respond with one of their own but Newmarket got the next five points via two Conor Cronin efforts and two Verling frees to leave it 1-11 to 2-7 at the three quarter hour mark. Newmarket were in front for the first time in the game but Meelin responded well with two points to regain the lead. Newmarket didn’t relent though and Brian O’ Connell added two fine points and Verling added one from play and one from a free after some good work from Kieran Lehane and Brian O’ Riordan to leave Newmarket ahead with the game entering injury time. There was another twist though as Meelin were awarded a twenty metre free which they duly finished to the net with a smashing strike to the top of the net to leave it level at full time, 3-9 to 1-15.

The game entered extra time again Newmarket upped the ante as David Quinlan hit a vital goal and a point within 2 minutes of the restart. Brian O’ Connell added another fine point to leave Newmarket leading 2-17 to 3-9 at half time in extra time.

Meelin responded quickly after the restart but Paul Verling pointed a good free to keep five points between the teams. Meelin weren’t going to lie down though and they pointed again to cut the gap to four. Verling responded with another free after he was fouled himself when he won his own ball from a crowded tussle for possession to leave it 2-19 to 3-11. The game had another major twist at the end as Meelin hit a late goal to leave two between the sides and added another point to leave just a single point between them. Newmarket won the next puck out and the final whistle was blown and after an entertaining game Newmarket came out just on top 2-19 to 4-12.

In what was a hugely entertaining game full of twists Nicky Flanagan and Shane C. Murphy performed excellently in the Newmarket rearguard stopping many opposition attacks and providing a springboard for Newmarket attacks. Pa O’ Brien won a lot of ball at midfield and used it effectively to give the forwards a good chance inside. Up front Brian O’ Connell and Conor Cronin did well while Paul Verling was the star of the show scoring some excellent frees from all over the field and adding a few from play too. Overall it was a good team performance from a hard working unit.

The Newmarket team and scorers…

Paul Verling (0-11), Brian O’ Connell (0-4), David Quinlan (1-1), Donnacha Fitzpatrick (1-0), Conor Cronin (0-2), Pa O’ Brien (0-1)

Shane McAuliffe
Alan Forde		Nicky Flanagan		Michael O’Leary
Eamon Murphy		Shane C Murphy		Nicky Barrett
	Pa O’Brien		Eddie Allen
Kieran Lehane		Donnacha Fitzpatrick		Billy Lane
Paul Verling		Billy Daly		Bryan O'Connell
Subs: Conor Cronin, Niall O’ Connor, Brian O’ Riordan, David Quinlan