Just like their Junior A hurling counterparts a week earlier, the Newmarket Senior footballers claimed league honours on a bright evening in Banteer, with victory over Kilshannig on Saturday.

Both sides had already guaranteed promotion for themselves, with Kilshannig topping the table with eight wins from eight and Newmarket lying in second place with a record of seven from eight.

The title of league champions was all that remained to be decided and the Kilshannig men opened the decider with a point after two minutes. Newmarket settled into the game well and led by four points to one on eleven minutes, through the finishing of Hugh O’Connor, Aidan Browne, Mikey Cottrell and Barry O’Connor. Some fast thinking by O’Connor five minutes later resulted in Newmarket’s only goal of the game, as he rose well with the Kilshannig keeper to punch a high ball into the opposition net. Scores were harder to come by for the rest of the half, with Mikey Cottrell and Bart Daly on target for Newmarket, as they entered the break 1-06 to 0-02 to the good.

Bart Daly added to his tally soon after the resumption, with Kilshannig giving themselves something to build on at the 32 minute mark as they bagged a goal of their own, to reduce the gap to five. A strong ten minute response from Newmarket, including some wonderfully kicked points from Hugh O’Connor (3), Barry O’Connor (2) and Darren O’Keeffe, gave the Duhallow side a sizeable ten point advantage entering the final quarter hour. With time running out, the Avondhu side came looking for goals and found a second on 48 minutes. A follow-up point minutes later reduced the arrears to six, 1-13 to 2-04. Newmarket responded through Barry O’Connor, with Kilshannig cancelling out the score, as the game entered the last ten minutes. Some high quality points from Hugh O’Connor, Kevin O’Sullivan and Darren O’Keeffe closed out the game, confirming the title for Newmarket on a scoreline of 1-17 to 2-05. After the match TJ Brosnan accepted the cup on behalf of the club. Congratulations to the players and management of Donal O’Sullivan, Barry O’Leary, Paul Murphy and Jim Morgan on a fantasic result. Áth Trasna Abú!

The Newmarket team and scorers…

Hugh O’Connor (1-05, 1f, 1×45),  Barry O’Connor (0-04), Bart Daly (0-02), Mikey Cottrell (0-02), Darren 0’Keeffe (0-02), Kevin 0’Sullivan (0-01), Aidan Browne (0-01). 

Josh O'Keeffe
Mikey Browne		Gavin Forde		Paudie Allen
Aidan Browne		T. J. Brosnan		Bart Daly
	Mikey Cottrell		Cathal Browne
Darren O'Keeffe		Kevin O'Sullivan		Paddy Browne
John Ryan		Barry O'Connor		Hugh O'Connor
Subs: Daniel Norton for Aidan Browne (45), David Cottrell for Mikey Cottrell (46), Tim Murphy for Barry O'Connor (57), Colin O'Sullivan for John Ryan (57).

Panel: Shane McAuliffe, David Cottrell, Daniel Norton, Colin 0’Sullivan, Eddie Allen, Tim Murphy, Kevin Daly, Paudie O’Sullivan, Ethan Hourigan, Daniel Culloty, Jack O’Connor, Michael Lane, Ryan O’Keeffe, Conor O’Keeffe, Alan Ryan, Tadhg Ryan

Management: Donal O’Sullivan, Barry O’Leary, Paul Murphy, Jim Morgan