Newmarket Ease Past Cratloe
Newmarket 2-11 v 0-9 Cratloe
Plenty of home truths under the sunshine in Shannon on Friday night, and though locals may be polite when speaking of it, its hard not to ask the question “what was all the fuss about ?” turning away from one of Cratloe’s most painful defeats in Championship Hurling in recent years.
In that time, Cratloe have won over a few admirers - and in the local press as much as anywhere else. There’s nearly always a cautious ‘but’ when talking about Cratloe’s prospects though. Just when about to threaten a breakthrough Cratloe have often limped away into the shade when big questions are asked. Clarecastle ‘06, Kilmaley ‘07, Newmarket ‘07, St. Josephs ‘08. And Friday will certainly add itself to the list.
Newmarket are no bad team. Some like to question their gumption and they have given their critics plenty of fodder with County final performances, but come the Spring when alternatives are looked for, no-one leaps infront of Newmarket from having the shortest odds in lifting the Canon Hamilton. On Friday its hard to really know how close they are to doing that such was the tameness of Cratloe’s assault. Newmarket played with a strong breeze in the opening half and struck nine wides. Points came from Cathal McInerney and Gearoid Ryan to lift the hopes for the challengers who were tacked back mainly with the freetaking of Colin Ryuan and Paudie Collins. The Blues put their noses infront when James Liddy shovelled a ball over the goal line following a goalmouth scramble but late in the half Cratloe’s half back line grew dominant and it seemed the favourites were there for the taking.
Unfortunatly for Cratloe they re-emerged like a team unprepared to do the work to make it happen. Winning Primary possesion in any field game is paramount. Cratloe’s attack is littered with skilful hurlers who given space are capable of punishing teams but its very hard to do without the ball. Newmarket threw up a wall with an extra sweeper in the second period and won puck out after puck out. And despite leaving it late to show it on the scoreboard it was from here they put a relatively poor tie beyond doubt.
Martin Murphy restored Newmarkets three point advantage in the final quarter after Sean Chaplin pegged Cratloe closer. From here Newmarket kicked on and out scored their opponents by 1-5 to 0-3 in the last ten minutes. The goal came from the introduced Martin McCormack with six minutes left on the clock leaving Diarmuid O Leary and his selectors with a few selection headaches when the championship ressumes. For Cratloe there are also headaches and serious soul searching. Best for them was anyone who won 50/50 ball. There werent enough. Liam Markham, Paul Conroy and Sean Chaplin most notable.
Next up Clarecastle, the date pending Clare’s progress in the All Ireland series, and possibly Cratloes biggest test of character ever.
Ar Aghaidh Linn.
Newmarket 2-11 v 0-9 Cratloe
Plenty of home truths under the sunshine in Shannon on Friday night, and though locals may be polite when speaking of it, its hard not to ask the question “what was all the fuss about ?” turning away from one of Cratloe’s most painful defeats in Championship Hurling in recent years.
In that time, Cratloe have won over a few admirers - and in the local press as much as anywhere else. There’s nearly always a cautious ‘but’ when talking about Cratloe’s prospects though. Just when about to threaten a breakthrough Cratloe have often limped away into the shade when big questions are asked. Clarecastle ‘06, Kilmaley ‘07, Newmarket ‘07, St. Josephs ‘08. And Friday will certainly add itself to the list.
Newmarket are no bad team. Some like to question their gumption and they have given their critics plenty of fodder with County final performances, but come the Spring when alternatives are looked for, no-one leaps infront of Newmarket from having the shortest odds in lifting the Canon Hamilton. On Friday its hard to really know how close they are to doing that such was the tameness of Cratloe’s assault. Newmarket played with a strong breeze in the opening half and struck nine wides. Points came from Cathal McInerney and Gearoid Ryan to lift the hopes for the challengers who were tacked back mainly with the freetaking of Colin Ryuan and Paudie Collins. The Blues put their noses infront when James Liddy shovelled a ball over the goal line following a goalmouth scramble but late in the half Cratloe’s half back line grew dominant and it seemed the favourites were there for the taking.
Unfortunatly for Cratloe they re-emerged like a team unprepared to do the work to make it happen. Winning Primary possesion in any field game is paramount. Cratloe’s attack is littered with skilful hurlers who given space are capable of punishing teams but its very hard to do without the ball. Newmarket threw up a wall with an extra sweeper in the second period and won puck out after puck out. And despite leaving it late to show it on the scoreboard it was from here they put a relatively poor tie beyond doubt.
Martin Murphy restored Newmarkets three point advantage in the final quarter after Sean Chaplin pegged Cratloe closer. From here Newmarket kicked on and out scored their opponents by 1-5 to 0-3 in the last ten minutes. The goal came from the introduced Martin McCormack with six minutes left on the clock leaving Diarmuid O Leary and his selectors with a few selection headaches when the championship ressumes. For Cratloe there are also headaches and serious soul searching. Best for them was anyone who won 50/50 ball. There werent enough. Liam Markham, Paul Conroy and Sean Chaplin most notable.
Next up Clarecastle, the date pending Clare’s progress in the All Ireland series, and possibly Cratloes biggest test of character ever.
Ar Aghaidh Linn.
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