Sixmilebridge 2-23

Newmarket On Fergus 1-10

Newmarket was the venue for this Under 16A Round 4 tie on an evening ideal for hurling with just a gentle breeze blowing across the field favouring neither team. The ‘Bridge got off to a flyer and had 5points on the board thanks to 3 Jack Corry frees and a point apiece from Luke Keogh and Sean McNamara before NOF registered their first point from a Jack Enright free in the 15th minute. Shane Whyte added another for the ‘Bridge a minute later, and they then upped the tempo with their midfield pairing of Adam Breen and Dylan Downes taking control allowing Jack Corry and Shane Whyte to cause serious problems in the half forward line which NOF had difficulty dealing with. Sean McNamara blasted at the NOF goal only for his shot to be deflected over the bar by goalie Cian Foley in the 22nd minute however, he wouldn’t be denied 5 minutes later when, after receiving an inch perfect pass from Leon Kelly, he finished to the NOF net for the game’s opening goal. The half finished with both sides trading points leaving the half time score 1-12 to 0-5 in favour of the ‘Bridge, who were very much in control.
NOF started the second half the brightest and were on the scoreboard within a minute with lovely point from Eanna Crimmins. They looked sharper and were playing some nice hurling all over the field. Jack Corry got the ‘Bridge going with a pointed free on 4 minutes and a minute later it was Corry again who picked out Luke Keogh with a beautiful pass and he buried it to back of the NOF net. Credit to Newmarket, they kept attacking and were unlucky 12 minutes in when Jack Enright’s strike at goal was expertly dealt with by Cian Fawl. Several ‘Bridge players then rattled off points as the NOF threat fizzled out and when Jack Enright finally hit a lobbed ball into back of the Bridge net it in the 25th minute, it was too little and far too late. In truth, the ‘Bridge were never in trouble at any stage in this match. They got stuck in from word go and their work rate was first class all over the field. Most importantly they were communicating with each other throughout and their team work was a joy to see. There were some brilliant individual displays; Jack Corry, Shane Whyte, Adam Breen, Dylan Downes, but it was the team effort, as usual, that won out.
For Newmarket Cian Foley (Goalie) was excellent as he had a very busy evening. Jack Enright was powerful and he never gave up at any stage in the game. Padriac Guilfoyle, Eanna Crimmins, Stephen Casey, and James Barry were also impressive.
Sixmilebridge: Cian Fawl, Adam O’ Sullivan, Alex Frost, Evan Murphy, Darragh Toomey, Storm Devanney, Sean Og Murnane, Adam Breen (0-1), Dylan Downes (0-1), Conor Flynn (0-2), Shane Wyhte (0-5), Jack Corry (0-8) (0-6f), Luke Keogh (1-2), Sean MacNamara (1-3), Leon Kelly.
Subs: Matthew Hurley for Sean McNamara, John Hogan for Alex Frost, Ferdia O’Lionain for Adam O’Sullivan, Matthew Dillon for Leon Kelly, Conor Morey for Evan Murphy.

Newmarket: Cian Foley, Sol Frost, David Hall, JJ Hanton, Feidhlim Barry (0-1), Eoin Guilfoyle, Kieran McMahon, James Barry (0-1), Eanna Crimmins, Ronan McCarthy, Jack Enright (1-05) (0-3F), Stephen Casey (0-1), Conor Freeman (0-1), Padraic Guilfoyle(0-1f), Owen McCoy.

Referee: Damian Fox.