SENIOR HURLING C/SHIPS: Newmarket survive Tulla resurgence

Newmarket  0-12  Tulla  0-11

Few, if any, gave Tulla a chance of beating Newmarket in this championship first-round tie at Clarecastle on Saturday but, as they have done regularly in recent seasons, the East Clare outfit made life difficult for the favourites.

Indeed, they failed to avail of a few key opportunities in the second half when they should have scored and would not have been flattered with at least a share of the spoils.
“It’s hard to win any championship game,” commented Newmarket manager Bob Enright after the game.  “I think, based on Clare Champion Cup form, people had Tulla written off coming into this one. I am absolutely delighted to have won. We were under serious pressure there,” he acknowledged.
Continuing, the Ennis-based schoolteacher said, “We stood firm and hung on by our fingernails and that will do. A win is a win.”
“The defence did well all day and our goalie was very composed in what was his first championship game. We have a big break now and have time to work on things.”
Tulla manager Jim McInerney was full of praise for his side’s efforts but lamented three wides in a row at a vital time in the second half. “I am very proud of the players, who gave of their all. Hopefully, the performance will stand to them.”
Such a tight finish didn’t appear likely as Newmarket raced 0-8 to 0-1 ahead after 20 minutes. They had the assistance of the wind in the first half and dominated in vital areas in the opening quarter.
Tulla came very much into the tie in the final 10 minutes and limited the winners to a point while picking off two, to leave the half-time score at 0-9 to 0-3, with wind assistance to come.
Exchanges were even in the opening 10 minutes of the second half, both sides adding two points. A Colin Ryan free in the 11th minute put the blues seven clear but little did their followers think at this stage they wouldn’t score again.
Scores from Philip Brennan, Cathal Dinan and a brace of Aidan Lynch frees had the score at 0-12 to 0-9 with 10 minutes remaining. Tulla were clearly gaining in confidence and as they piled on the pressure, there were some anxious moments for the favourites. Tulla, however, were guilty of three bad misses in the space of five minutes early in the final quarter.
A Patrick Minogue point cut the margin to two with eight minutes still to play. Ciaran Brennan made a fine save in the Tulla goal when he denied Martin Frawley a minute later.A Philip Brennan point left the minimum between the teams with three minutes still to play but try as they did, they failed to get the equaliser.
The momentum was with the East Clare side at this stage and a draw looked very likely but the Newmarket defence held firm. Newmarket sharpshooter Colin Ryan failed to find the target from two placed balls in the closing minutes.
Brian Lynch, Sean Torpey, Colm Halpin, David McInerney and Aidan Lynch were prominent throughout for Tulla, while Stephen Kelly, Pádraig Kilmartin, Eoin Hayes and David Barrett impressed for the winners.

Newmarket: Darren Duggan; Eoin O’Brien, Stephen Kelly, Pádraig Kilmartin; Niall O’Connor, James McInerney, Alan Barrett; Eoin Hayes, Sean O’Connor; Ronan Goode, David Barrett, Michael McInerney; James Liddy, Colin Ryan, Noel Frawley.
Subs: Martin O’Hanlon for Liddy (51 minutes); Shane O’Brien for M McInerney (57 minutes) and Enda Kelly for Frawley (57 minutes).
Scorers: Colin Ryan (0-4, 03f); James Liddy, David Barrett, Ronan Goode (0-2) each; Sean O’Connor, Mike McInerney (0-1) each.
Frees: 8; wides: 11; 65s: 2.
Bookings: David Barrett (six minutes) and Niall O’Connor (20 minutes).

Tulla: Alan Leamy; Eugene Cooney, Sean Torpey, Colm Halpin; John Fahy, Brian Lynch, Paul Lynch; David McInerney, Cathal Dinan; Patrick Minogue, Philip Brennan, Trevor Vaughan; Mark Lynch, Michael Murphy, Aidan Lynch.
Sub: Ciaran Brennan for Leamy (half-time).
Scorers: Aidan Lynch (0-3f); Trevor Vaughan (2f) David McInerney (0-2, 1f) Philip Brennan (0-2); Cathal Dinan, Patrick Minogue (0-1) each.
Frees: 12; Wides: 4; 65s: 2.
Bookings: Brian Lynch (six minutes).

Referee: Ger Hoey, Killanena.