On Friday evening last, Newmarket hosted Millstreet in their final league game before the knockout stages, knowing a win should all but guarantee progression to the semis.

The visitors showed why they are the in-form team of the competition, racing into a 0-02 to 2-03 lead, after eleven minutes, with Gavin Forde and Cathal Browne contributing Newmarket’s scores. Mikey Browne got the first of his side’s four goals soon after, with points from Paddy Browne, Barry O’Connor and Conor O’Keeffe also helping to reduce the margin, with the Millstreet leading 1-05 to 2-07 after 24 minutes. A stronger finish to the half by Millstreet, helped them add a further three points, compared to a sole Conor O’Keeffe free, restoring their seven point advantage at the break.

A slow start on resumption, saw Millstreet extend their lead by one, before a raft of scores dragged Newmarket back into the tie. Barry O’Connor registered Newmarket’s first point of the period, with Conor O’Keeffe rattling the back of the travelling side’s net on 42 minutes, having also scored a free moments earlier. Three points in as many minutes, through Cathal Browne, Paddy Browne and Conor O’Keeffe, levelled up the contest in spectacular fashion. With fixture entering the last quarter, a Gavin Forde free put his side ahead, but it was quickly cancelled out through a Millstreet placed ball. Mirroring the visitors in the first half, Newmarket scored two quick fire goals in the space of a minute, with Darren and Conor O’Keeffe on target. Millstreet responded well with three points without reply, to reduce the arrears to a goal, with four minutes remaining. A Michael Cottrell point pushed Newmarket further head for a moment, with a Millstreet free narrowing the gap again. As the clock went into the red, a Conor O’Keeffe free confirmed the victory for the home team and capped off an excellent comeback, with his side winning out 4-14 to 2-16.

The Newmarket team and scorers…

Conor O’Keeffe (2-05, 3f), Mikey Browne (1-00), Darren O’Keeffe (1-00), Paddy Browne (0-02), Gavin Forde (0-02, 2f), Barry O’Connor (0-02), Cathal Browne (0-02), Michael Cottrell (0-01).

Ben Newman
Jack O'Connor		Jamie Hayes		Michael Lane
David Cottrell		John Ryan		Mikey Cottrell
	Mikey Browne		Josh O'Keeffe
Darren O'Keeffe		Paddy Browne		Gavin Forde
Barry O'Connor		Conor O'Keeffe		Cathal Browne
Subs: Tadhg Ryan, Colin O'Sullivan.