Blues take control from the off

Newmarket 2-18   Kilmaley 0-9

FROM an early stage in Saturday’s Clare Champion Cup (Senior Hurling League) semi-final at Clarecastle, it was evident it would take a huge effort to stop Newmarket from qualifying for their second successive final.
Eight points ahead as the end of the first quarter approached, they had added a further two before Kilmaley got through for their first score and by half-time, they had opened a margin of 11 points.
Eleven points adrift clearly left Kilmaley with a huge task and this was made far greater when they were reduced to 14 men when Diarmuid McMahon was red-carded seconds before the half-time whistle.
Adding to Kilmaley’s woes, Conor McMahon was unable to return for the second half due to injury.
Midway through the second half, the slim hopes, which Kilmaley followers entertained of winning this tie were killed off when Newmarket struck for a brace of goals. Colin Ryan and Sean O’Connor got in the vital strikes, which ensured their side’s passage to this week’s final against Inagh-Kilnamona.
Centre-forward David Barrett set the tone for Newmarket’s win with five points inside the first twelve minutes. Once again, Colin Ryan was the team’s top scorer finishing with a tally of 1-10, 1-3 of which came from play.
Newmarket were 0-10 to 0-0 ahead after 17 minutes and a further two went by before Kenneth Kennedy opened Kilmaley’s account. The beaten county semi-finalists had lined out with Colin Lynch at full-forward but by now, they had moved him to his more regular position of midfield as they struggled to win possession.
It was 0-14 to 0-3 at the interval and while Kilmaley would have the assistance of the wind in the second half, the sending off of Diarmuid McMahon was a big blow on a day when they were struggling in most areas.
Daire Keane’s failure to find the target from a penalty effort just before the break did not aid matters. In the second half, he had another penalty effort and while he was on target on this occasion, his effort was saved.
Pádraig Kilmartin, Stephen Kelly, James McInerney, David Barrett and Colin Ryan were prominent for the winners.
For a disappointing Kilmaley, Colin Lynch, Martin O’Connor and John Clohessy did best.

Newmarket: Kieran Devitt; Shane O’Brien junior, Stephen Kelly, Pádraig Kilmartin; Darren O’Connor, James McInerney, Alan Barrett; Eoin O’Brien, Enda Barrett; Sean O’Connor, David Barrett, Michael McInerney; Eoin Hayes, Anthony Kilmartin, Colin Ryan.
Subs: Noel Frawley for M McInerney (inj, 35 minutes); Enda Kelly for S O’Connor (48 minutes); Niall O’Connor for P Kilmartin (51 minutes); James Liddy for A Kilmartin (55 minutes); Brian Clancy for A Barrett (58 minutes).
Scorers: Colin Ryan (1-10, 0-6f, 1x 65’); David Barrett (0-6), Sean O’Connor (1-0); James McInerney (0-2).
Kilmaley: Kieran Dillon; Martin O’Connor, Anthony Cahill, Colin McGuane; Conor McMahon, Alan Markham, John Clohessy; Ken Kennedy, Daire Keane; Michael O’Neill, Diarmuid McMahon, John Cabey; Conor Neylon, Colin Lynch, Niall McGuane.
Subs: Eoin Enright for Cabey (25 minutes); Noel Casey for C McMahon (inj half-time), Eoin O’Malley for Neylon (40 minutes), Sean Talty for O’Neill (50 minutes).
Scorers: Colin Lynch, Kenneth Kennedy (1f), Daire Keane (0-2 each); Diarmuid McMahon, Sean Talty, Eoin O’Malley (0-1 each).
Referee: Ger Lyons, Ruan.