It doesn't get much sweeter than this. Last week defeating the Rockies in the Senior Hurling Championship and yesterday defeating old rival and hot favorites Ballyhea in the Premier Minor County Final.

Coming into this game nearly everyone had written the Newtown Minor team off. Well beaten by Ballyhea in the first round of this competition, people thought, sure we have the seniors anyway, but this minor team had other ideas. People even even questioned the reasoning behind competing in the Premier grade with this bunch of players.

I say nearly everyone but the one bunch of people who had faith in this team was the team themselves and their mentors. They never gave up on this team and they have improved with every game they have played this year.

Coming into this game yesterday with nothing to loose Newtown hunted in packs, never letting Ballyhea settle into a fluent rhythm. With James Bowles outstanding on the forty and team captain Shane Moran leading his charges from the full back line, Newtown did enough to keep in the game up to half time. Ballyhea, playing with a stiff breeze only managed seven points to Newtown's five with Ballyhea guilty of some bad shooting which ultimately cost them dearly.

The second half was all Newtown, limiting Ballyhea to a single score, a goal. With James Bowles putting to a virtuoso performance for Newtown, scoring from play, winning frees, pointing those frees, this was indeed one of the best individual displays but a Minor for many a day.

It wasn't all about James Bowles though, all the Newtown players played like their lives depended on this game.

Their Mentors of Donal Mulcahy, Gary Morrissey and Pat Mulcahy have put in Trojan work with this bunch of lads and they played no small part in this victory. They can now look forward to a meeting with Bishopstown in the County Proper.