Newmarket-on-Fergus overcome Doora/Barefield to seal senior status

*Newmarket-on-Fergus’ John Feehily. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. 

CLARE SHC roll of honour leaders Newmarket-on-Fergus sealed their senior status with a one-point win over St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield.

Newmarket-on-Fergus 1-19
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 2-15
Venue: Dr Daly Park, Tulla

Played in front of a big attendance in Tulla on Saturday afternoon, the win keeps Newmarket-on-Fergus in the top flight and pits Doora/Barefield in the relegation final in two weeks time against either Corofin or Scariff.

The game produced many talking points, not least the fact that referee Eoghan O’Leary played six minutes ‘added time’ at the end of each half in a contest which produced a total of 45 frees.

The relief on the faces of long time Newmarket-on-Fergus supporters at the final whistle clearly showed what retaining senior status means to them.

Newmarket’s greater experience was a key factor on a day when their superior physical strength was also a key factor in their victory

With a new team management in place, headed by Clare All-Ireland winning hero from 2013 Colin Ryan, Newmarket-on-Fergus took an early lead thanks to a Sean Arthur point.

The lead was short-lived as Darragh Ball struck for a St. Josephs goal in the eighth minute, he was a free runner after Tom O’Connor fielded a high ball in the inside line.

Three converted frees from Éanna Crimmins for the Blues had the sides level at 0-5 to 1-2 at the midpoint of the half,

They were level on three more occasions as the game drifted into the thirtieth minute when Collin Guillfoyle converted a 100m free.

A minute into added time Darragh O’Shea’s attempted clearance from the St Joseph’s full back line was blocked down by Crimmins who raced through and fired home his side’s goal.

In the fifth and sixth minutes of additional time Colin Guilfoyle converted long range frees to send his side to the break leading 1-11 to 1-5, an advantage that they needed considering the strength of the breeze that was in their favour.

Points were exchanged twice early in the second half before the Doora/Barefield men outscored their opponents 0-4 to 0-1 before the end of the third quarter to narrow the gap to two points.

Two points was still the margin with five minutes remaining when Adam Enright came to his side’s aid with a magnificent save from Michael Nash.

Newmarket had pushed this out to four as the game went into ‘added time’. A Peter Power free pushed the winner five clear with two additional minutes played.

Doora/Barefield continued to press and a Pádraic O’Donovan free reduced the margin to four. The game was in the sixth minute of added time when The Parish were awarded a 20m free which goalkeeper Aaron Landy drilled low to the net to bring his side to within a point.

Time was not on their side and Newmarket-on-Fergus held on for victory on a day when Colin Guilfoyle, Seán Arthur and Éanna Crimmins played key roles.

St. Josephs went into this tie without key forward David Conroy and they lost Cian Barron and Jarlath Colleran to injury before half time. Conroy was introduced in the final quarter.

Adam Mungovan, Fionn Kelleher, Pádraic O’Donovan, Eoin McMahon, and Michael Nash got through a lot of work for the Doora/Barefield men.

Scorers; Newmarket-on-Fergus: Éanna Crimmins (1-6, 0-6 frees); Colin Guilfoyle (0-5, frees) Peter Power (0-4, 3f), Michael Power (0-3), Sean Arthur (0-1);

Scorers St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield: Pádraic O’Donovan (0-9, all frees); Aaron Landy (1-1, frees); Darragh Ball (1-0), Michael Nash (0-2), Eoin McMahon, Senan Crosbie Brian Guilfoyle (0-1) each

Newmarket-on-Fergus:
1; Adam Enright;

7: Niall O’Connor
3: Colin Guilfoyle
2: Damian Lyne

5: Jack Enright
6: Liam O’Connor
18: Shane Lynch

8: John Feehily
9: Sean Arthur
12: Eoin Guilfoyle
11: Eoin Hayes
10: Mikey McInerney

13: Peter Power
14: Éanna Crimmins
15: Michael Power

Subs:
19; James Freeman for M. McInerney (44);
21: Noel Frawley for E Hayes (47);
17: Paudie McMahon for J. Fehilly (50)
25: Mark Delaney for J. Enright (55)

St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield:
1: Aaron Landy;

19: Ian Williams
3: Jarlath Colleran
4: Fionn Kelleher

5: Adam Mungovan,
8: Darragh McMahon
7: Eoin McMahon

6: Darragh O’Shea;
2: Conor Daly

9: Darragh Ball
14: Eoin Burke
13: Pádraic O’Donovan;

25: Thomas O’Connor
30: Cian Barron
15: Michael Nash

Subs:
10: Senan Crosbie for Colleran (inj) (HT)
17: Brian Guilfoyle for C. Barro (inj) (HT)
11: David Conroy for D. Ball (50);
18: Ciaran O’Driscoll for D. McMahon (52)

Referee: Eoghan O’Leary (Whitegate)