Broadford faced Newmarket-on-Fergus on Sunday in their opening match of this year’s championship. The eagerly anticipated match was played in Sixemilebridge and was the start of Broadford’s campaign to get back to Senior hurling after having been relegated to Intermediate status last year.
Broadford started the match playing in to a wind that was driving straight down the pitch. Newmaket sought to take immediate advantage with a quick shot over the bar within the first 30 seconds of play but this was soon responded to with points from Craig Chaplin, Shane Taylor and Diarmuid Moloney. A late attempt by Newmarket to regain the ball after it had been played put a hurley across Diarmuid Moloney’s path which led to a free taken by Padraig Hickey to bring the score to 0-04 to 0-01. Newmarket took the next four points with Broadford only threatening to keep their lead with a number of wides not helped by the strong wind and worsening weather. With Newmarket now one point ahead the game could have gone either way although Newmarket seemed to be more coordinated and better able to make the most of the opportunities afforded them. However despite some hotly disputed play with the ball on, and maybe over, the side line between the two teams’ benches, Broadford kept Newmarket from running away with the game and briefly took the lead after points from Cathal Chaplin and Stiofan McMahon. Newmarket fought back hard and seemed to have a string of white flag successes but with points from Padraig Hickey, Craig Chaplin and Stiofain McMahon Newmarket were actually never able to extend their lead by more than one point. With seconds to go before the end of half time and a score line of 0-09 to 0-10 it seemed that both teams would be heading off the pitch with heads held high. However a late goal by Newmarket stunned the side lines and gave Newmarket a boost in their step as they headed to the changing rooms. Half time score 0-09 to 1-10.
The second half started as the first had begun with a point for Newmarket in the first 30 seconds but a string of points for Broadford, starting with a free taken by Padraig Hickey, one from the side lines 50m out by Cathal Chaplin another from Diarmuid Moloney 65m out reduced Newmarket’s lead to two points. At this point good hurling was replaced by some ugly scenes with two Broadford men down and a second off the ball skirmish just out from the Broadford goal. The trouble led to a red card for Newmarket. The free was taken by Cathal Chaplin and dropped just in front of the bar where it was knocked back in to play by the Newmarket goalie. Back hurling again and points apiece from Craig Chaplin and Stiofain McMahon put the two sides level at 0-14 to 1-11. After a brief rebound for Newmarket taking the lead by one point Broadford found their form and scored a string of seven points This included one over the bar after an incredible catch from Padraig Hickey with the ball seemingly plucked from the sky after a high pass and then turned around on the spot and sent over from just around 50m with brilliant precision. Some 23 minutes in to the second half and the sun was battling almost as hard as Broadford. Another skirmish around the Broadford goal and a free awarded to Newmarket who then took the opportunity to try and send the ball to the back of the net but the ball was knocked back in to play by some excellent defensive action with Newmarket then sending it over the bar for one point instead of three. With five minutes of play left and a score line of 0-21 to 1-13 Broadford just had to keep their nerve and stand their ground. Better than that though, three more points for Broadford (Hickey, Taylor then Hickey again) with just one wide for Newmarket gave Broadord a better win than might have been expected based on both the play and tally in first half. Final score 0-24 to 1-13.
An exciting match with moments of tension and heated exchanges, demonstrated by a yellow card for each team and the sending off of one Newmarket player. Nevertheless, a much needed win for Broadford on their journey back to Senior status.
Broadford will play Corofin in the next round of the Championship. Details to be finalised!
Broadford started the match playing in to a wind that was driving straight down the pitch. Newmaket sought to take immediate advantage with a quick shot over the bar within the first 30 seconds of play but this was soon responded to with points from Craig Chaplin, Shane Taylor and Diarmuid Moloney. A late attempt by Newmarket to regain the ball after it had been played put a hurley across Diarmuid Moloney’s path which led to a free taken by Padraig Hickey to bring the score to 0-04 to 0-01. Newmarket took the next four points with Broadford only threatening to keep their lead with a number of wides not helped by the strong wind and worsening weather. With Newmarket now one point ahead the game could have gone either way although Newmarket seemed to be more coordinated and better able to make the most of the opportunities afforded them. However despite some hotly disputed play with the ball on, and maybe over, the side line between the two teams’ benches, Broadford kept Newmarket from running away with the game and briefly took the lead after points from Cathal Chaplin and Stiofan McMahon. Newmarket fought back hard and seemed to have a string of white flag successes but with points from Padraig Hickey, Craig Chaplin and Stiofain McMahon Newmarket were actually never able to extend their lead by more than one point. With seconds to go before the end of half time and a score line of 0-09 to 0-10 it seemed that both teams would be heading off the pitch with heads held high. However a late goal by Newmarket stunned the side lines and gave Newmarket a boost in their step as they headed to the changing rooms. Half time score 0-09 to 1-10.
The second half started as the first had begun with a point for Newmarket in the first 30 seconds but a string of points for Broadford, starting with a free taken by Padraig Hickey, one from the side lines 50m out by Cathal Chaplin another from Diarmuid Moloney 65m out reduced Newmarket’s lead to two points. At this point good hurling was replaced by some ugly scenes with two Broadford men down and a second off the ball skirmish just out from the Broadford goal. The trouble led to a red card for Newmarket. The free was taken by Cathal Chaplin and dropped just in front of the bar where it was knocked back in to play by the Newmarket goalie. Back hurling again and points apiece from Craig Chaplin and Stiofain McMahon put the two sides level at 0-14 to 1-11. After a brief rebound for Newmarket taking the lead by one point Broadford found their form and scored a string of seven points This included one over the bar after an incredible catch from Padraig Hickey with the ball seemingly plucked from the sky after a high pass and then turned around on the spot and sent over from just around 50m with brilliant precision. Some 23 minutes in to the second half and the sun was battling almost as hard as Broadford. Another skirmish around the Broadford goal and a free awarded to Newmarket who then took the opportunity to try and send the ball to the back of the net but the ball was knocked back in to play by some excellent defensive action with Newmarket then sending it over the bar for one point instead of three. With five minutes of play left and a score line of 0-21 to 1-13 Broadford just had to keep their nerve and stand their ground. Better than that though, three more points for Broadford (Hickey, Taylor then Hickey again) with just one wide for Newmarket gave Broadord a better win than might have been expected based on both the play and tally in first half. Final score 0-24 to 1-13.
An exciting match with moments of tension and heated exchanges, demonstrated by a yellow card for each team and the sending off of one Newmarket player. Nevertheless, a much needed win for Broadford on their journey back to Senior status.
Broadford will play Corofin in the next round of the Championship. Details to be finalised!