Shield Glory For U16s

A second half comeback was enough to steer Newmarket-on-Fergus to victory over The Banner in the U16 B Shield Hurling Final.

Newmarket-on-Fergus 2-11
Banner 1-09
Venue: Éire Óg, Ennis

Trailing by six points at half-time few spectators in Ennis would have envisaged a Newmarket win on Saturday morning. The key difference between the sides was discipline, although they trailed for almost forty minutes in the contest Newmarket kept their cool. Once they found themselves under the pressure The Banner buckled and conceded countless frees.

Played in soft underfoot conditions at the GAA grounds of Éire Óg, both times were forced to adapt to the surface which wasn’t helped a football session taking place on the pitch less than an hour before throw-in.

Daniel Daly got the Banner out of the blocks with two minutes on the clock. The midfielder added to his tally as the half progressed with Kevin Considine also chipping in on the scoring. Shane Lynch and Peter Power kept Newmarket’s hopes alive in the opening half with the duo accounting for all of their first half scores.

Chiby Okoye used his strength and speed to good use on the twenty seventh minute when he evaded the Newmarket full-back line with ease before a low shot past Cian Foley for the opening goal of the game. Okoye’s strike left the Ennis club with a six point advantage at half-time.

Playing with new-found energy Newmarket set the tempo on the resumption. The impressive Peter Power hit five of the first six scores in the second half, including a goal. A shot from Shane Lynch was saved by netminder Aidan Jordan with the sliotar falling towards Power who considered his options before rattling the net and putting the Blues right back in contention.

Newmarket took the lead for the first time on forty seven minutes when a long-range shot from Darragh Whelan went all the way to the net. The Banner responded with Daly and Shane Meehan raising white flags. The Blues maintained their firm grip on proceedings as they kept their opponents scoreless for the final ten minutes while Power and Lynch added further points to seal the win.

Daniel Daly, Ian Molloy, Kevin Considine and Chiby Okoye did best for the Banner who for large spells looked like they would come out on top. However as the game became more of a battle their discipline went out the window and with it their chances of victory.

While Newmarket would have had aspirations of competing in the championship semi-finals they will be content with Shield glory. Peter Power finished the hour with a tally of 1-09, Jason Duggan, Shane Lynch and Darragh Burke also impressed for the winners.

Bord na nÓg Rúnaí Concepta O’Connor presented the Shield to Newmarket-on-Fergus captain Darragh Burke who expressed his hope that this win would be the launchpad for further success.

Newmarket-on-Fergus: Cian Foley, Callum Blake, David Frost, Kieran McMahon; Darragh Whelan (1-00), Darragh Burke, Paudi Guilfoyle; Jack Enright, Jason Duggan; David Hall, James Barry, Stephen Casey; Owen McCoy, Shane Lynch (0-02), Peter Power (1-09 7f). Subs: Liam Gleeson for McCoy (37), Thomas Costelloe for Frost (42), David Frost for Barry (55).

Banner: Aidan Jordan; Niall Walsh, Martin McCormack, Conor Hogan; Conor McMahon, Ian Molloy, Michael Kenny; Ronan Collins, Daniel Daly (0-06 4f); Kevin Considine (0-02), Andala Flynn, Stephen Kennedy, Tom O’Connell, Chiby Okoye (1-00), Cian Haugh. Subs: Shane Meehan (0-01)

Referee: Cronan Dillon (Crusheen)

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