Newmarket qualified for the Duhallow Cup Final after an excellent second half display enabled them to defeat Kiskeam by 1-12 to 2-6 at floodlit Kiskeam on a chilly Tuesday night.

Both sides returned to action after a number of weeks and it was the home side who opened the scoring on converting a fourth minute free. A youthful Newmarket side impressed and found an equalizer in the seventh minute when talisman Daniel Culloty struck superbly to bisect the posts.

The half back line impressed with Paudie Allen outstanding throughout. His fellow half back Alan Ryan found himself in an advanced position to kick Newmarket in front after twelve minutes. A Kiskeam free tied the sides for a second time midway through the half.

The home side hit the front in the nineteenth minute and Newmarket were punished for some very sloppy play as they were forced to concede a penalty. The resultant kick was duly dispatched to the net.

Newmarket’s response was swift as the inspirational T.J. Brosnan lofted over a point from long range following a fast flowing move. Daniel Culloty converted a free as Newmarket cut the deficit to 1-3 to 0-4 with the half entering the final five minutes.

Kiskeam finished in the ascendency as a point followed and Newmarket were indebted to Paudie Allen who somehow managed to position himself on the goalline to prevent a certain goal and divert an unguarded goalbound shot to safety. Kiskeam added a free to enter the break with a lead of 1-5 to 0-4.

Newmarket set about retrieving the deficit immediately upon the throw in. A swift move ended with Donal Hannon well placed to clip over a point within seconds.

John Ryan found the target from a free as Newmarket gained momentum. Daniel Culloty pointed superbly and Eddie Allen produced a neat finish as Newmarket proved clinical in attack and restored parity by the end of the third quarter.

Newmarket then laid the platform for victory with T.J. Brosnan showing great awareness to find the net and a narrow target with a perfect execution from distance. Daniel Culloty added yet another superbly taken point with T.J. Brosnan similarly spectacular in lighting up the contest with a quiet excellent point.

This helped Newmarket to a six point advantage, having racked up an impressive tally of a goal and seven points in succession since the beginning of the half. Kiskeam rallied on adding a pointed free before Newmarket conceded a second penalty with the game entering the closing few minutes. A second goal from the spot left just two points between the sides but Newmarket replied immediately as T.J. Brosnan again showed his quality with a brilliantly taken point from long range.

Newmarket held out for the remaining stages and advance to a final appearance against Rockchapel.

The Newmarket team and scorers…

T.J. Brosnan (1-3), Daniel Culloty (0-5), Donal Hannon (0-1), Alan Ryan (0-1), John Ryan (0-1), Eddie Allen (0-1)

David Quinlan
Jeremy Murphy		Brian O’Riordan		Matthew Fitzpatrick
Paudie Allen		Mark Reidy		Alan Ryan
	John Ryan		T. J. Brosnan
Michael Cottrell		Daniel Culloty		Donal Hannon
Eddie Allen		Shane Murphy		Barry O'Connor
Subs: Barry O’Leary, Tony O’Keeffe, Robert Stack, John Scanlon