Newmarket to fete three in-a-row winners

NEWMARKET-on-Fergus dominated Clare hurling during the sixties and seventies, achieving two three in-a-row successes and one four in-a-row between 1963 and 1974.

Fifty years ago in 1963 they won the first title in their first three in-a-row and on Friday, August 30 the members of the 1963, 1964 and 1965 teams will be honoured at a function at The Inn at Dromoland hotel.
Tickets for this function are selling fast and a limited number are still available from club chairman Pat Keogh at 087 2569022 or PJ McMahon at 087 2079573.

Eight years had elapsed since Newmarket’s win in 1955 when they regained the Canon Hamilton Trophy in 1963.
They opened their campaign with a 2-12 to 2-6 win over Tubber. They went on to beat Sixmilebridge and Éire Óg to secure a final date against Whitegate whom they beat on a 6-10 to 3-7 scoreline.

The team was captained by Ger ‘Buddy’ McMahon and lined out as follows:  Jim Woods, Ger ‘Buddy’ McMahon, Don O’Neill, Lewy Halpin; Gerry Fawl, Jimmy Cullinan, Vincent Hogan; Liam Danagher, Joe Hannon; Pat Halpin, John Quinn, Pat Cronin; Paddy McNamara, Tom Melody and Tom Keane.
Subs were Michael O’Leary, Noel Carroll, Jimmy Hourigan, Dominick McMahon, Donie Danagher, Michael Considine, PJ McMahon.

A year later, Buddy McMahon was again the captain as Newmarket retained the title with an 8-12 to 5-7 win over Clarecastle, who were to be their great rivals during the next decade.
The team in this final was: Jim Woods; Gerry ‘Buddy’ McMahon, Mick Considine, Lewy Halpin; Gerry Fawl, Vincent Hogan, Joe Hannon; Liam Danagher, Hubbie McCabe;  Pat Halpin, Paddy McNamara, Pat Cronin; John Quinn, Tom Melody, Michael O’Leary.
Subs: Sean Murphy, Don O’Neill, Tom Keane, Dominick McMahon, Michael Power, Tom Cullinan, Kevin ‘Trixie’ Twomey.

In 1965 Newmarket completed a hat-trick of senior wins when they defeated Éire Óg by a goal, 2-6 to 1-6 with Jimmy ‘Pudden’ Cullinan as their captain.
The team on this occasion was Kevin ‘Trixie’ Twomey; Ger ‘Buddy’ McMahon, Michael Considine, Louis Halpin; Gerry Fawl, Jimmy Cullinan, Jim Woods; Hubbie McCabe, Liam Danagher; Joe Hannon, Gus Lohan, Pat Cronin; John Quinn, Tom Melody and Sean Murphy.
Subs: Pat Halpin, Dominick McMahon, Val Arthur, Tom Cullinan, Michael O’Leary, Don O’Neill and Mick Power.

Memories of those victories and of that golden era for Newmarket hurling will be recalled when members of those teams and their supporters gather on August 30. It promises to be a great occasion.