Croke Rovers got out of the blocks early, with two points in as many minutes. Newmarket quickly replied through the expert free-taking of Mikey Browne and edged in front after six minutes. Further scores by Josh O’Keeffe and Rory Lynn stretched the Newmarket advantage to three points, but Croke Rovers bounced back in style, scoring 1-02, without reply. A Rory Lynn point, just before the first water break, narrowed the margin to 0-06 to 1-04, in favour of Rovers. The remainder of the half was dominated by Newarket, with a brace of points from Paddy and Mikey Browne, as well as a score from Michael Lane, giving his side a 0-11 to 1-05 lead, coming up on 30 minutes. With the half in added time, Paddy Browne dispatched the ball to the back of the Rovers net, to leave it 1-11 to 1-05, at the interval.

A Rory Lynn point opened the scoring of the second half. Croke Rovers ensured the lead did not extend to an insurmountable task, scoring 1-02 in the first five minutes, with Mikey Browne replying for Newmarket from placed ball in the same period. Further Browne frees ensured Newmarket held a four point lead coming up on 40 minutes. The advantage was extended with points from Josh O’Keeffe, Paddy Browne and another brace from Mikey Browne, to give their side a 1-19 to 2-10 lead, on 45 minutes. Mikey Browne’s accuracy in free taking continued, with another three scores from place ball being registered. As the match entered the final five minutes, a Rory Lynn free meant the scoreboard displayed 1-23 to 2-11. Knowing green flags were required, Croke Rovers bore down on the Newmarket goal and eventually broke through the defences on 56 and 60 minutes, to narrow the lead to just a puc of a ball, 1-23 to 4-11. With their resolve tested, Newmarket replied through points from Mikey Browne and Paudie O’Sullivan to restore some breathing room. A late brace of points from the Castlemagner Kilbrin combination, was not enough and Newmarket closed the game out, 1-25 to 4-13 winners. Congratulations to the team and their mentors on a fantastic victory. Áth Trasna Abú!

The Newmarket team and scorers…

Mikey Browne (0-14, 0-12f), Paddy Browne (1-03), Rory Lynn (0-04, 0-01f), Josh O’Keeffe (0-02), Michael Lane (0-01), Paudie O’Sullivan (0-01).

Ben Newman
Sean Murphy		David Cottrell		Eoin Walsh
Michael Lane		Ethan Hourigan		Darragh Lynn
	Josh O'Keeffe		Paudie O'Sullivan
Mikey Browne		Jack O'Connor		Peter Goggin
Paddy Browne		Jamie Kenneally		Rory Lynn
Subs: Andrew Murphy, Troy O'Donoghue, Stephen Murphy.