Newmarket hurlers in lethal form to regain Duhallow Junior crown from Dromtariffe

Newmarket 3-28 Dromtariffe 1-23 

Newmarket delivered on their potential to overcome holders Dromtariffe in a thrilling E Tarrant & Sons Skoda Dealer Duhallow JAHC final at a packed Kilbrin.

A clinical display saw Newmarket regain the cup after relinquishing their crown last autumn. The better balance of a hungrier combination helped secure a 17th outright title. 

They operated against the strong breeze and grabbed two timely first-half goals to enjoy a narrow advantage at the break before pulling away. Dromtariffe stayed with their arch rivals for a lengthy stage but struggled to contain Newmarket’s attractive hurling.

A lively opening saw Tomás Howard put Dromtariffe ahead only for Newmarket to signal their intentions when Cian Crowley placed Barry O’Connor to goal. The positive efforts of Aidan Browne, Mikey Browne, Ryan O’Keeffe and Man of the Match Hugh O’Connor typified the industry and ambition of Newmarket to shoot seven of the next nine points.

Dromtariffe worked their way back. A run of points from the Howard brothers reduced the arrears, 1-8 to 0-7 at the close of the opening quarter. Though Dromtariffe made further inroads, slack marking was punished, a Ben Newman puck-out into space saw Donal Hannon drill home a goal for a 2-12 to 0-16 advantage.

The fireworks continued on the restart, a third Newmarket goal from Crowley cancelled out by Dromtariffe’s Brandon Murphy. However, Newmarket’s precision in attack remained significant. Rory Lynn, Hugh O’Connor and Hannon gave them a 3-16 to 1-18 grip at the three-quarter stage.

Though Dromtariffe answered with points from Conor O’Callaghan, Tomás Howard and substitute Stephen Coyne in a bid to revive their challenge, Newmarket enjoyed a better cutting edge.

They finished with a flourish. Hannon added to his impressive tally while Dromtariffe didn’t pose the same intensity and scoring threat in open play.

Jubilant scenes greeted Newmarket captain Conor O’Keeffe's acceptance of the John Joe Brosnan Memorial Cup. They are now into a county semi-final against the Avondhu or Carbery champions.

Scorers for Newmarket: D Hannon 1-8 (0-6 f), H O’Connor 0-6 (0-1 f), C Crowley 1-2, B O’Connor 1-1, R O’Keeffe 0-4, R Lynn 0-3, A Browne, C O’Keeffe, M Browne, C Browne 0-1 each.

Dromtariffe: T Howard 0-6 (0-1 f), S Howard 0-5 (0-4 f, 0-1 65), B Murphy 1-2, C O’Callaghan 0-3, E Murphy 0-3, A Healy 0-2, D Dennehy, S Coyne 0-1 each.

NEWMARKET: B Newman; P Allen, A Browne, J O’Connor; A Ryan M Browne, J O’Keeffe; H O’Connor, D O’Keeffe; C O’Keeffe, D Hannon, C Crowley; R Lynn, B O’Connor, R O’Keeffe. 

Subs: K O’Sullivan for D O’Keeffe (48), C Browne for R O’Keeffe (51).

DROMTARIFFE: D Cremin; D Dennehy, M O’Brien, R Daly; J Kelleher, C O’Callaghan, J Murphy; S Howard, K Cremin; G O’Keeffe, T Howard, E Murphy; B Murphy, M O’Callaghan, A Healy. 

Subs: S Coyne for M O’Callaghan (h-t), M O’Gorman for J Keleher (h-t), M O’Connor for G O’Keeffe (35), D Murphy for D Dennehy (52), S O’Riordan for A Healy (59).

Referee: Simon Stokes (Tullylease).