Blues get back in the hunt with win over Whitegate

*Peter Power was back in the Newmarket-on-Fergus attack. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

Newmarket-on-Fergus picked their championship campaign from the floor with a nine point victory over Whitegate.

Newmarket on Fergus 0-18
Whitegate 0-09
Venue: Dr Daly Park, Tulla

By Jamesy McConigley

With the game in the balance at half time, a second half domination with the dismissal of Whitegate’s Dylan White ensured that Newmarket-on-Fergus flew home to a much needed win in round two of the Clare SHC.

The action commenced at a blistering pace with both teams earmarking this fixture as a must win. It was the Blues who settled the better with Liam Clancy and Colin Ryan recording points for Newmarket. Conor Whelan got his team up and running with a point of his own before their was goal-mouth action at the other end. A quick interchange of passing from Colin Ryan, set up Peter Power but his effort was pushed away by Andrew Fahey. Power didn’t have to wait long to have his redemption, alas for the attacker, the former Clare net-minder was in defiant mood, nonetheless, Power’s audacious attempt was from an acute angle.

This sparked a mini revival with Whitegate notching the next two points consecutively. Points from Ronan Hayes and Paul Burke were followed by one from Newmarket’s Jack O’Connor. Midway through the opening half, Danny Hynes converted a free to restore parity for the first time since Liam Clancy gave the Blues the lead. The high-tempo was matched with excellent shooting accuracy, with eight points registered from nine attempts, with Whitegate tallying five of them.

The team in black and red hoops edged in front for the first time as the game ticked into the second quarter. A well taken score from Ronan Hayes was matched by his namesake Danny, propelling Whitegate two in front. However, in the next sequence of play, the ever reliable Colin Ryan reduced the arrears back to the minimum.

The fluency continued as none of the players got a chance to draw a breath. The scale was tipped in Newmarket’s favour as Peter Power fired over a brace of scores. Looking as if the Blues were going into the break leading by the minimum, up stepped Conor Whelan to level matters on his championship debut.

The game in the balance, a near full house as the rain decided to take a break, the sizeable crowd were in for an exciting second half, one would have expected that, nevertheless, a case of ‘Murphy’s law’ for Whitegate all but ended that. The dismissal of Dylan White proved fatal for Terrence Fahy’s charges as Newmarket rain riot after the restart, scoring the next nine points in a row.

Brendan Bugler clashes with Eoin Guilfoyle. Photograph: Ruth Griffin

Whitegate never surrendered as Andrew Fahey saved well from Eoin Guilfoyle on two separate occasions coming down the home straight. Newmarket however didn’t blink and finished out the fixture with their primary task in mind. Points from Colin Ryan (3), Jack O’Connor, Éanna Crimmins and Peter Power in the final quarter rounded off a fruitful innings for Tomas Ryan’s team.

Scorers Newmarket-on-Fergus: Colin Ryan (0-06, 3f), Peter Power, Liam Clancy (1f, 65) (0-03 each), Jack O’Connor, Eanna Crimmins (0-02 each), Colin Guilfoyle, Eoin Guilfoyle (0-01 each).

Scorers Whitegate: Conor Whelan (0-03), Danny Hynes, Ronan Hynes (0-02 each), Ciaran Keenan, Paddy Burke (0-01 each).

Newmarket-on-Fergus:
Paudie Guilfoyle

Sean O’Connor
James McInerney
Jack Enright

Colin Guilfoyle
Enda Barrett
Stephen Casey;

Paudie McMahon
Mikey McInerney,

Eoin Guilfoyle
Jack O’Connor
Liam Clancy

Colin Ryan
Peter Power
Éanna Crimmins

Subs:
Eoin Hayes for Clancy (40 mins)
Frank Melody for J O’Connor (52 mins)
John Feehily for Crimmins (60)

Whitegate:
Andrew Fahey;

Reuben Noyes
Eoin Quirke
Dylan White;

Colm Madden
Ian Fahy;

Tomás Quirke,
Danny Hynes;