Newmarket began their junior B football league campaign with a well earned home victory over Ballydesmond by 1-13 to 1-9 at a wet and windy Newmarket on Saturday evening.

Ballydesmond were out of the blocks instantly as they pointed within seconds of the throw in. Daniel Culloty had Newmarket on level terms by the second minute as he split the posts with a well drilled kick. Ballydesmond settled better and were more clinical as a trio of points gave them the lead. Daniel Culloty added his second point but Ballydesmond reeled over another two points to lead by 0-6 to 0-2 after seventeen minutes of play. Newmarket were disjointed at times but gradually improved with Robert Stack and Nicky Flanagan finding the target. The final two points of the half were shared as a Nicky Flanagan free left Newmarket only trailing by two points, 0-7 to 0-5 at the half time whistle.

Playing with the wind to their backs, Newmarket instantly took advantage as Nicky Flanagan pointed within a minute of the second half resuming. Ballydesmond pointed next but Newmarket assumed control built on a sound defensive display. A crucial turning point came in the ninth minute. John Scanlon glided a dangerous kick towards the edge of the square, which Ballydesmond failed to deal with and Robert Stack was on hand to flick to ball home to the net to give Newmarket the lead for the first time. They never looked back as two superb points from Jack Guiney either side of a John Lane point stretched the lead to 1-9 to 0-8 midway through the half. John Lane hit a rich vein of form as he added three Newmarket points. Ballydesmond recovered and on being awarded a penalty, crashing the resultant kick to the roof of the net to ensure a tight finish to the game. Nicky Flanagan added another Newmarket point and despite Ballydesmond scoring a late point, Newmarket held on for the win.

The Newmarket team and scorers…

Jack Guiney (0-2), Daniel Culloty (0-3), Nicky Flanagan (0-3), Robert Stack (1-1), John Lane (0-4)

Shane McAuliffe
Ian Flanagan		Brendan Stack		Jeremy Murphy
Gavin Forde		Pa O’Brien		Jack Guiney
	Jonathan Flaherty		Niall O’Connor
Eddie Allen		Daniel Culloty		Nicky Flanagan
John Scanlon		Robert Stack		John Lane
Subs: Daniel O’Doherty, Luke McCarthy, Kieran Lehane, Anthony Lynch, Eoin O’Connell