’Bridge get a dose of the Blues

Newmarket-on-Fergus 3-7 Sixmilebridge 1-10

Newmarket supporters seemed oblivious to the driving rain as they burst on to Cusack Park, Ennis, to celebrate their shock three-point victory over hot favourites Sixmilebridge after a thrilling minor hurling A final on Sunday.
This was Newmarket’s sixth title in total and their first since 2007, yet their delirious fans hugged their young heroes as if it was their first.
This merited win over their neighbours and arch-rivals was one of their sweetest county titles for a variety of reasons. Another season of underachievement at adult level had left Newmarket supporters feeling very despondent.
The famed Blues badly needed a boost having suffered narrow defeats in the Clare Champion Cup, Intermediate League and Junior A deciders.
Written off by most hurling pundits and even some within their own club at the start of the year, Newmarket, who displayed a greater hunger and will to win, achieved this success against all the odds.
Having dethroned reigning champions Kilmaley at the semi-final stage, a lot was expected from this Sixmilebridge outfit, who on paper had a star-studded line-up with six members of the Clare All-Ireland final minor panel – Kevin Lynch, Seadna Morey, Noel Purcell, Pa Sheehan, Alan Mulready and Jamie Shanahan, in their first 15.
Jamie Shanahan was the only player to emerge with an enhanced reputation with yet another inspirational display as Pa Sheehan, Alan Mulready and Seadna Morey produced flashes of brilliance in the first half.
In sharp contrast, Newmarket only had one member of the Clare minor panel, Frank Melody, who displayed great steel and battling qualities throughout.
When you consider that the ’Bridge have won the last four U-16A hurling titles, it is easy to see why they were fancied to emerge with something to spare in this encounter.
With so many talented players at their disposal, their shell-shocked supporters were left scratching their heads in disbelief after witnessing another minor A final defeat for the third successive year, having previously lost to Inagh-Kilnamona and Kilmaley.
This was an absorbing encounter, with plenty of twists and turns, which drew gasps of admiration from the small crowd of a few hundred people for the showpiece of the underage calendar.
The great rivalry between these sides, even at underage level, brought a distinct edge to the proceedings, which was sprinkled with some cracking goals and scores that wouldn’t have been out of place in an adult final.
Most of the drama was packed into second period, when Newmarket outscored their fancied opponents by 3-2 to 1-5 following a low-scoring opening half, which finished level at 0-5 apiece.
After the change of ends, Jamie Shanahan converted a free to edge the ’Bridge back in front before they were rocked by a superb goal in the 33rd minute from Shane Liddy, who crowned a defence-splitting 30m solo run by unleashing a piledriver past a hapless Kieran Quinlan, despite the attention of three chasing defenders.
Although Seadha Morey took the sting out of the Newmarket goal by pointing at the other end, it provided the Blues with a real tonic early in the second half.
Jamie Shanahan underlined his sheer class with 1-1 within a two-minute spell. Still U-16, the ’Bridge full-forward has the potential to be a superb forward thanks to his physical strength, sublime stickwork and blistering pace.
This was illustrated when he brought down a high overhead pass from a colleague onto his hurley and cooly slotted the sliothar between the posts from midfield. He followed up with a goal, which drew admiration from the crowd. After winning possession in midfield, he raced through the Newmarket defence, beat one defender before unleashing an unstoppable drive to the right corner of the net.
This smashing goal should have put the ’Bridge in the driving seat but instead they were left reeling after two opportunistic goals from Shane Cusack in the 10th and 12th minute of the second period. The pacey full-forward only had a goal on his mind when he won possession in the half-forward line and sent an unstoppable drive from about 30ms to the back of the ’Bridge net.
The decisive score came when two ’Bridge defenders went up to parry a long-range free from Newmarket keeper Niall Woods and Cusack was in the right place with a deft flick to leave his side 3-6 to 1-8 in front.
The Newmarket defence became more dominant as the game wore on thanks to eye-catching displays from Darren O’Connor and Shane Kelleher, Frank Melody and Ian Cusack worked hard throughout while their full-forward line exploited gaps in the ’Bridge full-back line by netting an impressive 3-3.
The ’Bridge could only manage two more points courtesy of frees converted by James Shanahan in spite of two half chances of goals when Cathal O’Connor and Ian Mulready opted to pick up the sliotar on the 21m line when a direct ground shot could have yielded at least one green flag.
There was very little between the sides in the opening 30 minutes. Thomas Griffin showed his accuracy by splitting the posts in the second minute after winning possession out near the sideline on the stand side. Jamie Shanahan fired over two points before Shane Cusack was unlucky with a goal attempt in the sixth minute. Long clearances by ’Bridge defenders Kevin Lynch and Noel Purcell, who were ably assisted by Eanna Burns, weren’t always delivered into space to their forwards’ advantage.
Pa Sheehan was rewarded for his hard work with a point from play to leave the ’Bridge 0-4 to 0-2 ahead after 16 minutes. Seadhna Morey fired across the goalmouth after he was put through with a deft Jamie Shanahan flick. Both sides traded points to finish level at the break. However, the issue was well and truly decided early in the second half with Newmarket’s three-goal salvo.

Newmarket: Niall Woods; Sean Quinlivan, Niall O’Connor, Evan Keogh; Shane Kelleher, Darren O’Connor (captain), Padraig Hayes; Frank Melody, Ian Cusack; Donagh Keogh, Sean Gleeson, Liam Clancy; Thomas Griffin, Shane Cusack, Shane Liddy.
Subs: James Warren (58 mins) for Sean Gleeson; Liam Glenny (60 mins) for Donagh Keogh.
Scorers: Shane Cusack (2-0), Shane Liddy (1-0), Thomas Griffin (0-3), Liam Clancy (0-4f).
Frees for: 13; Wides:  7
“Newmarket knew that Sixmilebridge were favourites going into the game but also knew if we performed to our ability we would win the game.” Newmarket manager, Tom Ryan.

Sixmilebridge: Kieran Quinlan; Brian Carey, Kevin Lynch (captain), Eamon O’Donoghue; Conleth Agnew, Noel Purcell, Eanna Burns; Cathal O’Connor, Pa Sheehan; Darragh Fitzgerald, Alan Mulready, Seadhna Morey; Sean Lynch, Jamie Shanahan, Conor Deasy.
Subs: Darragh McNamara (39 mins) for Eamon O’Donoghue; John Mulready (46 mins) for Darragh Fitzgerald; Alex Morey (56 mins) for Conleth Agnew.
Scorers: Jamie Shanahan (1-6, 1-4f); Alan Mulready (0-2); Pa Sheehan (0-1); Seadhna Morey (0-1).
Frees for: 11 ; Wides: 7
“Newmarket took their scoring chances and Sixmilebridge didn’t which was the difference on the day.” Sixmilebridge manager, Tom Sheehan.

100 training sessions deliver final victory

“Come on the Blues,” roared an ecstatic Newmarket captain, Darren O’Connor after he had accepted the Willie Chaplin Memorial Cup in the VIP section at Cusack Park, Ennis, on Sunday.
In his acceptance speech, Darren said very few people gave Newmarket a chance of winning the minor hurling A crown at the start of the year.
However, he felt the players had got their just reward thanks to their great endeavour in training and matches during the season.
He paid glowing tributes to all the Newmarket management team, manager, Tomás Ryan, selectors Pat Freeman, Tom McNamara, Brian Clancy and Martin O’Hanlon, for their role in this success.
“The five lads over us, I don’t think I can ever repay yet for what you have done,” he said.
Having won four U-16 titles in a row, he said that Sixmilebridge had unbelievable talent and had great potential to enjoy further county final success.
It was very much a case of mixed emotions for Newmarket woman Ann Chaplin, nee McMahon, who is a sister of well-known referee Seanie McMahon, when she presented the cup in honour of her late husband, Willie, Sixmilebridge, who died suddenly 15 years ago.
Bord na nÓg Iomaint chairman, Sean O’Halloran told the crowd that this “sweet victory” for Newmarket was an example of what could be achieved through honesty and hard work from a group of players who hadn’t enjoyed any success at any age group.
Two-goal hero Shane Cusack recalled when he saw the opportunity for his first goal he went for it.  Once his saw two ’Bridge defenders going up for the sliothar a few minutes later, he knew he had a great chance of scoring a second one once he got the necessary touch.
“No one expected Newmarket to win here today but we always knew that we could win this game. Even when Sixmilebridge went a few points ahead in the second half, I still believed we could do it, the focus was always there.
“Newmarket have finished strongly in most of our games thanks to our great fitness. This victory is a huge boost for the club and hurling, which was at a low ebb this year,” he said.
Newmarket manager Tom Ryan revealed the panel had met 100 times in training and meetings as a group since last February, which involved a huge amount of dedication and work for any underage side.
He described the victory as a great boost for the players, who hadn’t enjoyed success up along the underage ranks.
Addressing the players in the Newmarket dressing room, Sixmilebridge manager  Tom Sheehan was magnanimous in defeat, conceding that the winners deserved their three-point victory.