A disjointed display saw Newmarket’s senior footballers go down to a league defeat against Naomh Aban by 2-9 to 2-5 at Newmarket on a sunny Sunday afternoon before a sizeable attendance.

Newmarket completely dominated possession for the first ten minutes of the game. John Lane converted a free having been upended in the very first minute of action. In the fourth minute a long probing ball goalwards by T.J. Bodie caused trouble for the Naomh Aban defence and Michael Cottrell was on hand to guide the ball to the net from close range.

Newmarket maintained territorial advantage with Kevin O’Sullivan a central figure at centre half forward but the side wasted a number of scoreable opportunities. In practically their first attack into the Newmarket defence, Naomh Aban found the target with a superbly executed point from distance after ten minutes. This was followed with two further well taken points in as many minutes.

Midway through the half a dangerously angled ball, driven invitingly across the face of the Newmarket square with real pace was duly met with a significant flick and the ball nestled in the net for a Naomh Aban goal. Newmarket failed to find their earlier form and a Naomh Aban point stretched their lead to three points after twenty minutes play. Timothy Murphy ended a seventeen minute period without a score by steering over a point and matters improved when Kevin O’Sullivan pointed from twenty yards to bring Newmarket to within a point again. The half ended with a Naomh Aban score which enabled the visitors to turn around with a lead of 1-5 to 1-3.

Naomh Aban took advantage as Newmarket’s display became more lethargic during the second half. Two points followed before a tenth minute Naomh Aban goal put seven points between the sides. A number of positional changes and the introduction of substitutes tried to reverse the situation but Newmarket had to wait sixteen minutes for a score when John Lane popped over a point with his right boot. Naomh Aban were next to score but substitute Daniel Culloty replied with a Newmarket point as the game entered the closing ten minutes. Michael Cottrell finished a fine solo run emphatically to the net having being released by an excellent offload by John Lane to spark hope of a Newmarket revival. However, with time running out the visitors ensured they would hold on for the spoils and a final point, five minutes from time ensured a Naomh Aban victory.

The Newmarket team and scorers…

Michael Cottrell (2-0), John Lane (0-2), Kevin O’Sullivan (0-1), Timothy Murphy (0-1), Daniel Culloty (0-1)

David Quinlan
Paudie Allen		Brian O’Riordan		Barry O'Leary
John Ryan		Bart Daly		Matthew Fitzpatrick
	Colin O'Sullivan		T.J. Brosnan
T.J. Bodie		Kevin O'Sullivan		Michael Cottrell
John Lane		Tim Murphy		Tony O'Keeffe
Subs: Daniel Culloty, Gavin Forde, Nicky Flanagan, Steven Stokes