A commanding second half performance enabled Newmarket to overcome the challenge of Castlemagner in the Duhallow Cup first round game played at Newmarket on Friday evening. The final score of 2-13 to 0-9 puts a gloss on a display that required Newmarket to resist a stiff test posed by Castlemagner in the first half.

On an ideal evening for football, Tony O’Keefe was first to score for Newmarket. In the ninth minute, with the sides level, Barry O’Connor found the net for a Newmarket goal. Castlemagner replied and enjoyed a productive spell as they reeled off three points in succession to restore parity by the end of the first quarter. Newmarket rose to the challenge as the impressive John Lane carved out an opportunity before punching a point. John Ryan then slotted over a free before providing two of the highlights of the hour with two magnificently executed points from distance. Castlemagner pointed a twenty third minute free and were again to the fore but unable to add further to their tally. Newmarket completed the half with some fine interchanging play between T.J. Brosnan and John Ryan which resulted in the half back pointing in style. The half time whistle shortly followed with Newmarket holding a lead of 1-6 to 0-5.

Newmarket resumed in determined fashion as Barry O’Connor smashed a shot which cannoned off the crossbar. John Ryan added a pointed free before Barry O’Connor caught sight of goal for a second time in quick succession and this time he crashed home a super shot to the back of the net. This enabled Newmarket to take control with much of the half played in the Castlemagner half. John Ryan was on target from a free before Bart Daly with a wonderfully executed forty five and Tony O’Keeffe at the end of a fine move, pointed for a Newmarket side in full flow. Newmarket could at this stage afford to see a penalty awarded for a foul on Tony O’Keeffe, hit the post and rebound to safety. Bart Daly again found his range and the target from distance before a Castlemagner point left the score reading 2-11 to 0-6 midway through the second half. Newmarket made several substitutions, one, the welcome introduction of Paddy O’Toole for his first appearance of the year following a lengthy injury. John Lane pointed twice for Newmarket as the sides traded four points in twelve minutes. Castlemagner had the final score of the game but Newmarket’s reward for a fine second half display was progression to the next phase of the Duhallow Cup.

The Newmarket team and scorers…
Barry O’Connor (2-0), John Ryan (0-5), John Lane (0-3), Tony O’Keeffe (0-2), Bart Daly (0-2), T.J. Brosnan (0-1).

David Quinlan
Alan Ryan		Paudie Allen		Jack Guiney
Gavin Forde		Pa O’Brien		T. J. Brosnan
	Bart Daly		Colin O'Sullivan
John Lane		John Ryan		Eddie Allen
T.J. Bodie		Tony O'Keeffe		Barry O'Connor
Subs: Brian O’Riordan, Paddy O’Toole, Tadgh Ryan, Luke McCarthy, John Scanlon, Michael O’Leary.