First blood to Bridge in Group of Death

*Sixmilebridge defender, Barry Fitzpatrick. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

First blood to Sixmilebridge as a powerful second half display ensured the opening derby spoils over Newmarket-on-Fergus in Cusack Park this afternoon.

Sixmilebridge 0-23
Newmarket-on-Fergus 1-13
Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis

A face-paced first period made way for an all too one-sided encounter on the turnover as Sixmilebridge’s additional sprinkling of experience and winning knowhow raged to the fore to commence the new campaign on a winning note.

Indeed, the Blues would only score four second half points, their last coming at the turn for home to lower the deficit to just two.

However, a five point unanswered final quarter including fitting scores for chief protagonists Jamie Shanahan, Seadna Morey and Shane Golden were accentuated by two crucial late saves from superb goalkeeper Derek Fahy to ease the 2019 and ’20 champions over the line.

The Inter-county firepower of Shanahan, Cathal Malone, Golden and Seadna Morey were the ultimate difference between the sides when needed most in contrast to a relatively blunt Newmarket attack.

The Blues did start firmly on the frontfoot with the first three points but once a Jamie Shanahan-led Bridge side settled into their stride, the tide quickly turned. Seven first half wides hampered Sean Stack’s side’s progress as instead a brilliant solo goal through Peter Power directly from a puck-out provided a timely lift for Newmarket at 1-6 to 0-7 by the 18th minute.

Jamie Shanahan converted three points in a strong response but by the break, the Blues still held the edge at 1-9 to 0-11.

Newmarket-on-Fergus manager, Tomas Ryan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

That was as good as it got for Newmarket though as aided by the conditions, Sixmilebridge stormed out of the blocks with five of the first six points of the new half, two from Shanahan, to open up a 0-16 to 1-10 advantage by the two-thirds mark.

It was a lead they would never relinquish as Seadna Morey led the charge to wear down any remaining Newmarket resistance and receive an early jolt in the group of death.

Scorers for Sixmilebridge: Jamie Shanahan 0-10 (6f); Cathal Malone, Shane Golden, Seadna Morey 0-3 each; Cathal Lynch, Brian Corry, Conor Deasy, Brian Carey 0-1 each

Scorers for Newmarket-on-Fergus: Liam Clancy 0-6 (5f, 1’65); Peter Power 1-1; Mikey McInerney 0-2; Jack O’Connor, Colin Ryan, Colin Guilfoyle, Eoin Guilfoyle 0-1 each

Sixmilebridge
1: Derek Fahy

4: Pa Mulready
3: Barry Fitzpatrick
2: Noel Purcell

5: Conor Deasy
6: Caimin Morey
7: Paidi Fitzpatrick

8: Brian Carey
9: Seadna Morey

10: Cathal Malone
11: Jamie Shanahan
15: Cathal Lynch

13: Brian Corry
12: Shane Golden
14: Lorcan Fitzpatrick

Substitutes:
17: Aidan Quilligan for Mulready (3-6, BS)
18. Christy Carey for Lynch (60)

Newmarket-on-Fergus
1: Paudie Guilfoyle

3: Jack Enright
17: James McInerney
4: Paudie McMahon

5: Colin Guilfoyle
6: Enda Barrett
7: Niall O’Connor

2: Sean O’Connor
8: John Feehily

10: Mikey McInerney
11: Eoin Guilfoyle
12: Jack O’Connor