Newmarket’s footballers began the playing season with a trip to Cloyne in the Tom Creedon Cup and returned home with a clear cut victory by 3-9 to 0-8.

Despite treacherous weather close to home, Newmarket took to a solid playing surface and blue skies in Cloyne. Newmarket assumed authority from the throw in and enjoyed territorial advantage from the outset. Bart Daly rewarded early dominance with a well struck converted free. Newmarket struggled to add to their tally but were boosted in the ninth minute when Barry O’Connor finished clinically to the net for the games opening goal. Eddie Allen slotted over a point midway through the half before Shane Murphy added a close in free. Cloyne threatened and got off the mark on pointing after nineteen minutes. The sides then exchanged points as Barry O’Connor finished off a fine move involving Bart Daly. Danny Culloty drilled over a point late in the half as Newmarket went into the interval with a lead of 1-5 to 0-2.

Newmarket withstood Cloyne resilience upon the restart as Bart Daly again found his range from a free. Seven minutes into the half Newmarket took a strong grip on proceedings as the impressive Donal Hannon was well placed to take a pass and he finished superbly to the roof of the net for a fantastic goal. Cloyne replied with two points but Newmarket were awarded a penalty at the end of the third quarter as Shane Murphy was upended despite netting in the same move. Daniel Culloty stood up to crash home a third Newmarket goal. Two excellent points from a similar narrow angle by Daniel Culloty and Paudie Allen followed. Cloyne hit four points in the final ten minutes with Nicky Flanagan getting on the score sheet for Newmarket.

Newmarket introduced a number of substitutes but began the season with a good win. They now proceed to play Valley Rovers in the next round.

The Newmarket team and scorers…

Daniel Culloty (1-2), Barry O’Connor (1-1), Donal Hannon (1-0), Bart Daly (0-2), Padraig Allen (0-1), Eddie Allen (0-1), Shane Murphy (0-1), Nicky Flanagan (0-1)

David Quinlan
Barry O'Leary		Brian O’Riordan		Michael O’Leary
Stephen Stokes		Paudie Allen		Alan Ryan
	Kevin O'Sullivan		Bart Daly
Donal Hannon		Daniel Culloty		Michael Cottrell
Eddie Allen		Shane Murphy		Barry O'Connor
Subs: Nicky Flanagan, Gavin Forde, John Lane, Jeremy Murphy, Jamie Hayes, Luke McCarthy