This article is from page 67 of the 2011-04-12 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 67 JPG
Newmarket 1-14 – Tulla 1-13 at Dr Daly Memorial Park, Tulla
TWO SIDES that would arguably claim to be a work in progress, with the assimilation of youth into the ranks seemingly the main priority in this evenly matched affair. A draw would have been the fairest result in a game that could have gone either way as evidenced in a tense finale on Sunday evening.
With the teams locked at 1-13 apiece drifting into injury-time, Tulla’s main attacking duo David McInerney and Andrew Quinn combined for what appeared to be the leading score for the recently crowned Fitzgibbon Cup winner but referee Ger Hoey disallowed it for a square ball. And in the next passage of play, it was David Barrett who punished at the other end to hand Newmarket a welcome first victory.
It was that close throughout however as the sides were locked on level terms no fewer than nine times over the hour. All that after James Liddy had given Newmarket the perfect start after 100 seconds with a solo goal after receiving a pass from David Barrett.
It failed to rock Tulla who were back on level terms within five minutes with points from Andy Quinn and a brace from Aidan Lynch who was causing the Blues some discomfort in the right corner. Indeed, from his opening attack, Lynch might have grabbed a goal had it not been for the reflexes of goakeeper Kieran Devitt who somehow tipped his effort over the bar. However, following replies from Martin O’Hanlon and a Colin Ryan free, Aidan Lynch did raise a green flag on his second attempt in the 11th minute with a trademark solo and shot from an acute angle.
Newmarket brought on Niall O’Connor to curb the rampaging forward and it had a settling effect as Colin Ryan converted two placed balls to put his side ahead once more at 1-5 to 1-4 by the 22nd minute.
Ryan’s move to centre-forward coincided with David McInerney’s switch to midfield for Tulla and both would dominate for their respective sides on the way to a half-time deadlock at 1-7 apiece.
Newmarket re-emerged the brighter side on the restart and appeared to be easing away from the home side with successive points from Ryan, substitute Darren O’Connor and Eoin Hayes while the latter also hit the side netting with a shot during the same period.
However, Tulla mustered up a recovery and four unanswered points followed, two from the stick of Andy Quinn at the turn of the final quarter to hold a precarious 1-11 to 1-10 advantage while Trevor Vaughan might have added a goal.
Crucially though, when required, it was county senior Ryan who stepped forward to lead his side with three placed balls in the closing stages in a duel with Quinn who levelled the game in the 58th minute with a free at 1-13 to 1-13.
It was shaping up to end as a draw but it wasn’t to be as events conspired to tip the balance in Newmarket’s favour and get them off the mark.
Newmarket- on- Fergus
Kieran Devitt, Eoin O’Brien, Stephen Kelly, Eoin McInerney, Martin Frawley, James McInerney,Alan Barrett, Enda Barrett, Martin O’Hanlon (0-1), Noel Frawley, David Barrett (0-2), Paraic Collins, James Liddy (10), Colin Ryan (0-9 4f, 1’65), Eoin Hayes (0-1)
Subs
Niall O’Connor for E. McInerney (13 mins), Darren O’Connor (0-1) for M. Frawley (HT), Tommy Griffin for Liddy (49 mins), Enda Kelly for Collins (43 mins), JimMcInerney for N. Frawley (49 mins)
Tulla
Philip Brennan, Eugene Cooney, Mark Quinn, John Fahy, Donnacha McNamara, Sean Torpey, Cian McInerney, Brian Lynch, Cathal Dinan, Trevor Vaughan (0-1), David McInerney (0-2), EannaTorpey (0-1),Aidan Lynch (1-2), Kieran Brennan,AndrewQuinn (0-6 3f, 1’65)
Subs
Danny O’Halloran (0-1) for E.Torpey (39 mins), Daragh Corry for K. Brennan (47 mins)
Man of the Match
Colin Ryan (Newmarket- on- Fergus) Referee Ger Hoey (Killanena)