PATIENCE was the key for Newmar- ket Celtic on Sunday as they eventu- ally overcame the stubborn challenge of Division | side Kilrush Rangers to secure a place in the second round.
As with any cup tie against lower league opposition, the key to success for Newmarket was staying loyal to their game plan wear down the op- position and that perseverance even- tually paid dividends as the reigning Premier champions took charge of the second period and hit two goals to prevail.
It was all so different in the first half however. As expected, the home side had the lions share of posses- sion but were repeatedly frustrated
in the last third and instead it was the plucky west Clare side who enjoyed success on the break, taking the lead as early as the 22nd minute and re- ally should have added two more be- fore the interval.
Newmarket, for all their build up play, couldn’t break down a miserly Kilrush defence anchored suberbly by goalkeeper Tony Burke and cen- tre-half Barry Copley. Burke wasn’t overly burdened with shots but his assured aerial handling provided a secure base for Kilrush.
In fact, while Newmarket had plenty of chances, their only shot on target in that opening half came as early as the 4th minute when a brief defensive lapse allowed Eoin Hayes to bear down on goal but his effort
was excellently smothered by Burke.
In contrast, Kilrush, who only lived on scraps, were the more threatening side of the half and had three golden Opportunities to give themselves a significant half-time advantage.
Crucially though, they only took one but what a solo goal it was as winger Sean Downes easily jinked through the Newmarket defence to rifle to the net. That goal sandwiched two glorious chances for striker John Carmody who first failed to connect properly in front of an open goal after a teasing cross from Paddy Clancy in the 11th minute and the second came on the half hour when he rounded goalkeeper Trevor O’Donnell but screwed his left foot shot wide.
The home side sneer v Obs
clicked into gear though and bat- tling an icy breeze that cut through McDonough Park, they began the second half with renewed determi- nation. Unconsciously, despite being aided by the wind, Kilrush sat deep and drew Newmarket upon them. In the 47th minute, Jimmy Houli- han stroked a good chance just left of the post but it was only a warning of what was to come and in the 57th minute, it was the elusive Eoin Hayes who toe-poked home the equaliser after being put through by Mike O’ Malley.
Kilrush were now totally in defence mode, only posing a threat with Tony Burke’s booming clearances to his strike pairing. Instead, Newmarket continued to lay siege and as the shots tally built up, a goal for the home side appeared all too inevitable.
They did leave it late though. Just as supporters were bracing them- selves for another twenty minutes of frostbite, Eoin Hayes again popped up to knock a ball over the top for Jimmy Houlihan, who finished to the net amid appeals from Kilrush for offside.
In typically spirited fashion, Kil- rush did have one last sting in the tail when Trevor Clancy went through one-on-one with O’Donnell but the keeper was equal to it and Newmar- ket held out for a plum all-Premier second round tie with Bridge Celtic.