Crusheen/Tubber 4-09
Newmarket-on-Fergus 3-05
Venue: Fr Murphy Memorial Park
Crusheen/Tubber got off to a winning start in the U14 B Hurling Championship and deservedly so as they proved to be quicker, sharper, fitter and more efficient than their Newmarket opponents on Friday evening.
Within four minutes, Dylan Lyons had bagged two goals for the visitors as Newmarket paid the price for poor concentration early on. Mark Delaney opened the hosts account with a nice point from distance before Aaron Moroney got a flick to a Seamus Quinn cross goal pass to raise a green flag and leave three points between the sides with nine minutes on the clock.
Patrick Taaffe responded for the North Clare amalgamation as he finished off a well-worked move by hitting between the posts. Cathal Droney then added 1-01 without reply as the midfielder extended the advantage to eight points. Conor Meehan slotted over a free for the Blues to give them the final score of the half.
A fantastic save from Adam Enright on the resumption denied Dylan Lyons from picking up a hat-trick as Enright pushed his strike over the bar. A long range goal was followed by a point from Senan Dunford which pushed Crusheen/Tubber further ahead.
Dylan Lyons added to his tally as the game progressed sandwiched between scores from Conor Meehan and wing-back Seadhna Liddy who moved closer to goal in an attempt to bridge the gap. Meehan then goaled from distance to reduce the deficit to nine points.
Lyons responded at the other end before Newmarket added 1-01 as substitute Emmet Calvey struck for goal with Jamie Power splitting the posts before the final whistle.
Their rally came too late in the game, although they outscored Crusheen/Tubber 2-03 0-02 in the final quarter, the damage was already done as the winners had enough work already done. For their first outing, the North Clare side showed the signs of a team that has played plenty of games. They linked up very well with each other and attacked their opponents in droves. Oisin O’Donnell, Cathal Droney, Patrick Taaffe and Declan Lyons stood out for the victors.
Newmarket can be very happy with their comeback in this game, they never gave in and this trait will please their management and bodes well for their chances of bouncing back in their next outing. They still appear to be trying to find their strongest fifteen and the defeat will help them come closer to putting it together. Sol Frost and Brian Morrissey did well for the Blues.
Crusheen/Tubber: Tommy Fahy; John O’Sullivan, Matthew Meaney, Tom Tynan; Glenn O’Sullivan, Oisin O’Donnell, Senan Dunford (0-01); Cathal Droney (2-01), Patrick Taaffe (0-01); Eoghan McMahon, Luke Ketelaar, Daniel Liddy; Liam Clancy, Dylan Lyons (2-06 2f), Cian Fogarty.
Newmarket-on-Fergus: Adam Enright; Brian Morrissey, Dylan Crowe, Mark Molloy; Seadhna Liddy, Sol Frost, Darragh Jones; Mark Delaney (0-01), Jamie Power (0-01); Seamus Quinn, Michael Costelloe, Daniel McDarby; Conor Meehan (1-02 2f), Hugh O’Grady, Aaron Moroney (1-00). Subs: Emmet Calvey (1-00), Jack Moloney, Lee Cregan, Sean Duggan, Declan Howard, Robert Hanton, Eric Ng.
Referee: Jarlath Donnellan (Wolfe Tones)