Determined Newmarket end their long wait for glory

Newmarket-on-Fergus 3-10 Cratloe 0-9:THERE WERE scenes of unbridled joy at Cusack Park, Ennis yesterday at the final whistle, when Newmarket-on-Fergus claimed their 23rd Clare senior title, outclassing 2009 champions Cratloe with a powerful display of hurling on a bad day, weather-wise.

What was not lost on their jubilant supporters though was the fact that this was the first time since 1981 that the Canon Hamilton Cup was secured.

This panel of players must have been sick of reminders of past glory days for the club and from the off yesterday, it was evident they were determined to get that particular monkey off their backs, for once and for all.

An unexpected 10-point victory was no more than they deserved, though most pundits had expected a much more balanced contest. A jubilant Newmarket team-boss Bob Enright alluded to this after the game when he said, “we have played Cratloe many, many times over the last few years and there’s never ever much between us. It’s generally a point of a difference and I actually thought coming here today, that it could very easily be a draw.”

But the writing was on the wall as early as the opening minute of the game when Newmarket corner-forward Shane O’Brien pounced on a breaking ball supplied by a free out of defence by James McInerney, and rifled it to the back of the Cratloe net.

It was the dream start Newmarket craved. Cratloe, who relied on the twin scoring threat of Conor McGrath and Cathal McInerney up front, never really got going on the day, though that’s as much a compliment to a courageous Newmarket outfit who hurled with abandon in difficult weather conditions. O’Brien grabbed a second goal in the 21st minute when due to lax marking on behalf of the Cratloe backs, full-forward Anthony Kilmartin picked out the unmarked number 13 in a scoreable position.

Newmarket led 2-5 to 0-3 with four minutes left to half-time and it was in that short period that Cratloe did their best hurling. But their best was not enough and they trailed 2-6 to 0-6 at the break.

The winners confirmed their superiority with two Colin Ryan points shortly after the restart to open up an eight-point lead as the half progressed.

A superb late individual effort by Ryan with five minutes remaining produced a third goal, capping off his man-of-the-match performance. His accuracy from placed balls was a vital ingredient in his team’s success.

Centre-back Enda Barrett, corner-back Eoin O’Brien and full-back James McInerney also played huge roles for the winners.

Cratloe had a great chance when Seán Collins was through on goal, late in the game, but Newmarket goalkeeper Darren Duggan saved superbly from point blank range, deflecting the shot for a 65.

Over the hour Newmarket played like champions and every one of the starting 15 played a pivotal role in this win, with David Barrett and goal hero O’Brien were the best of the forwards.

NEWMARKET: D Duggan, E OBrien, J McInerney, S OConnor, N OConnor, E Barrett (Capt.), A Barrett, E Hayes, M OHanlon, M McInerney, C Ryan (1-8, seven frees), D Barrett (0-2), S OBrien (2-0), A Kilmartin, S OBrien Snr. Subs: J Liddy for Kilmartin (43 mins), R Goode for Hayes (58 mins), N Enright for D Barrett (59 mins).

CRATLOE: S Hayes, J OGorman, B Duggan (Capt), E Boyce, M Hawes, C Ryan, L Markham (0-1, 65) M Murphy, S Chaplin, P Collins, D Ryan, S Collins (0-1), C McInerney (0-1), C McGrath (0-5, four frees), G Ryan. Subs: D Browne (0-1) for Duggan (22 mins), A Browne for D Ryan (h-t), S OLeary for G Ryan (38 mins), S Gleeson for Chaplin (45 mins).

Referee: A Heagney (Corofin)