Michael O’Connor reports from Shannon where Wolfe Tones were wiped out by a hungry Newmarket on Fergus on a score of 3-23 to 3-7
A DEJECTED Newmarket-on-Fergus side left a rain sodden Cusack Park last Autumn shellshocked at how they lost, and a lot of others felt they had squandered a county final place.
Well, they are back for more this year and apparently stronger with players back in the fold and newer younger fast-moving hurlers ready to be unleashed later in the championship season.
On Thursday evening they dispensed with the ultimately limited challenge of Wolfe Tones in Shannon. Normally in times past this fixture would be one to savour and will be again but not this latest encounter.
The O-Connor-powered backline is a collective obstacle that will need to be overcame by any forward sextet that wishes to defeat Newmarket and the placement of Colin Guilfoyle seems at this juncture a wise move.
But the emergence of Eanna Crimmins and Eoin Guilfoyle allied to the freetaking of Liam Clancy gives them confidence, firepower and a target up front that on this showing Wolfe tones could not handle.
Seamus Casey set up Crimmins for the first score, a goal in the second minute. Sean Costello responded immediately with a Wolfe Tones point but it was all Newmarket as they added five scores from John Feehily, Eoin Guilfoyle (3), Crimmins and Padraic McMahon to race seven clear.
Jack Cunningham gave hope with a long delivery that deceived Ronan McCormack and went all the way to the net after 16 minutes.
This score was a brief respite as the intense running through the centre of the Wolfe tones side was too much to handle with Newmarket adding a further (1-5) in the second quarter with Liam Clancy who ended as top scorer converting a 25th minute penalty.
Eoin Guilfoyle, Colin Guilfoyle, Dean Devaney, Ben O’Gorman, Liam Clancy (3) and Kevin McCafferty all added points for both sides as Newmarket led with ease, (2-11) to (1-5) at the interval.
The ambitious long striking of wing back Colin Guilfoyle gave him his second score a minute into the new half as Niall O’Connor got in the act as well on the other wing.
Aaron Cunningham, Clancy, Eoin Guilfoyle and Crimmins added scores as Pa Freeman made three outstanding second half saves to ensure the defeat did not enter the 20-point realm.
Joe McGauley goaled for the home side after great approach work by Devaney. There was no respite for Wolfe Tones as their guests kept piling on the pressure despite bringing on five replacements.
Eoin Guilfoyle hit his side’s third goal as Liam O’Connor from centre-back rounded off the scoring exploits with two points in a minute while Aaron Cunningham ended the game with a long-range free that went all the way the Newmarket net.
NEWMARKET-ON-FERGUS: Ronan McCormack, Sean O Connor, James McInerney, Jack Enright, Colin Guilfoyle (0-3), Liam O Connor (0-2), Niall O Connor (0-1), Padraic McMahon (0-1), John Feehily (0-1), Mike McInerney (0-1), Mark Delaney, Stephen Casey , Eoin Guilfoyle (1-4), Eanna Crimmins (1-2), Liam Clancy (1-7). Subs: Eoin Hayes for Crimmins, Evan Keogh for Feehily, Conor McCarthy for M McInerney, Cian Foley for Casey, David Frost for Delaney,
WOLFE TONES: Pa Freeman, Shane Nihil, Gary Cusack, David Ryan, Luke Merrigan, Daithi Lohan, Sam Meaney, Ben O Gorman (0-1), Jack Cunningham (1-0), Sean Costello (0-1), Aaron Cunningham (1-0), Kevin McCafferty (0-1), Dean Devanney, Joe McGauley (1-0), Dylan Frawley. Subs: Brian Murphy for Merrigan, Jamie Roughan for Frawley,
Referee: Niall Malone (Eire-og, Inis)