Murphy header gives Newmarket win over neighbours Kanturk
Credit: PICTURE: BILLY MERNAGH
Newmarket's Michael O'Sullivan and Kanturk's Derek Carroll tussle for the loose ball in the Kanturk Goalmouth during the Cork AUL Division 3 league game at Gurteenard on Sunday.
THE first league game of the season in the Cork AUL Division 3 brought together neighbours Kanturk and Newmarket in a local derby at Gurteenard on Sunday morning.
Kanturk started the better, dominating possession but failing to find that killer ball to score. Newmarket, who looked sluggish at the start got more and more into this encounter, however, as the game ticked by. While not getting on the ball as much as they would like, they made Kanturk work a lot harder and started to create some chances of their own.
However, it was a fairly glum first half with the best chances created from long balls and set pieces. The best chance from play fell to Kanturk's Ian Winters. A long ball into the Newmarket penalty area broke to him but under pressure he hit it first time straight at the keeper.
The half ended scoreless and both teams were glad of the chance to retire and regroup.
The second half started with Newmarket picking up where they left off, matching Kanturk for effort but with neither team making a break through. Indeed it took a set piece to produce the first goal.
Five minutes into the second half Newmarket got a corner and centre back Trevor Murphy popped up at the back post unmarked to head home.
From then on Newmarket controlled the game and looked comfortable soaking up the Kanturk pressure and breaking on the counter.
Kanturk made a few changes to try and get back into the game. The changes added some impetus to Kanturks effort but Newmarket stayed calm and kept playing their controlled defensive game. Kanturk created some half chances but failed to make any of them count.
With ten minutes to go Kanturk created the best chance of the half when midfielder Timmy Murphy, who was the engine driving Kanturk forward, won a ball in the Newmarket penalty area, but couldn't find that elusive touch to score and the chance was lost.
The game ended 1-0 to Newmarket in a game that could have gone either way.
- Aiden Mernagh
