Newmarket easily win Senior B title

NEWMERKET recorded a comfortable victory over Shannon Gaels in the Armada Hotel Senior B Championship final in Kilmihil on Sunday evening.

A blistering start, which saw the winners outscore their opponents by 1-5 to 0-1 inside 10 minutes, proved crucial and in truth the 2010 county intermediate champions never looked back. The goal came from the impressive Anne Marie Hayes who finished with a tally of 1-5 over the hour while dual star Nikki Kaiser kicked six points from play.

Midfielder Jenny Kelly notched seven, three of which were from frees. Shannon Gaels’ third point came in the 25th minute and they did finish the half strongly with three points from their best player on the evening Sarah Bohannon, while Edel Dillon had a goal opportunity but she shot wide.  At the other end, Carol O’Leary made no mistake when she netted for the winners on the stroke of half-time at which Newmarket led 2-9 to 0-6.

Newmarket continued where they left off with early second-half points from Jenny Kelly, Nikki Kaiser and Anne Marie Hayes, while their third goal was scored by half-back Laura McMahon from the penalty spot with 11 minutes on the clock. 

As well as going on to represent Clare in the Munster Plate competition, Newmarket will now play Cooraclare in a play-off for the fourth semi-final spot in the senior championship.

Newmarket: Mary Hayes, Jane O’Leary, Aoife Griffin, Brid Enright, Laura McMahon (1-0), Chloe Morey, Aimee McInerney, Jenny Kelly (0-7, 0-3f), Áine O’Brien, Gemma McInerney (0-1), Carol O’Leary (1-0), Nikki Kaiser (0-6), Anne Marie Hayes (1-5), Róisín McMahon (0-1), Claire Arthur.
Subs: Shauna Halpin for AM Hayes, Oonagh Barry for G McInerney.
Shannon Gaels: Serena Carmody, Eilis Moran (captain), Carmel Bohannon, Sarah Kelly, Helena Flanagan, Susan Neylon, Imelda Kennedy, Mary Ruth Neylon, Edel Dillon (0-1), Ger Corry, Sarah Bohannon (1-5, 0-3f), Hazel Baumann, Carla Beehan, Michelle Madigan (0-1), Lorraine McNamara.
Subs: Kate O’Brien for S Neylon, Adrienne Nugent for I Kennedy, Ronya Baumann for L McNamara, Gráinne Howard for G Corry.
Referee: Michael Talty (Kilmurry Ibrickane).