Evening Echo, October 14, 2003

Newtownshandrum waited to serve the best wine until last when, in their most impressive performance of the year, they outgunned the reigning champions Blackrock to take their second county senior title.

While they were impressive at stages against Imokilly and Ballyhea, their commitment and concentration lasted the full 60 minutes against Blackrock and there can be no doubting their right to victory.

Blackrock will be very disappointed at not collecting their third title in a row, but as in the semi-final against Cloyne they never really dominated their opponents and struggled up front to make an impression on the Newtown defence. The first half was a close, tough affair with lots of bunching and very few free-flowing passages of play.

Newtown scored an early psychological advantage with their team formation and when man of the match Ben O’Connor had Australia bound Alan Cummins in trouble, the Rockies had to rearrange their defence to cover their shortcomings. They can be grateful for the masterful display of Wayne Sherlock in the first half for covering his team-mates and setting up attacks with is long clearances.

With Pat Mulcahy stepping up his performances against Sars, these clearances were in the main returned with vengeance with Ben O’Connor the main conduit for their scores. He accumulated five first half points out of Newtown’s six-point tally, as the challengers went in one point to the good at the short whistle.

Newtownshandrum came out even more determined in the second half and they dictated matters all over the field. With Ben continuing where he left off in the first half and their defence really on top, Newtown laid down the challenge and really set about atoning for last year’s defeat. With the hurling now more open it suited the Newtown style and Blackrock were playing catch up for most of the second half.

Of their second half return Blackrock’s centre-field scored one goal and three points with their forwards only contributing one point to the tally. Indeed Blackrock will point to their forward’s meagre tally of four points over the hour as one of the main reasons why the cup no loner rests in Church Road. The flight plans of Alan Cummins and John Browne could not have helped their cause but the main factor behind Newtown’s victory was their obvious hunger for the victory.

There wasn’t the same edge to Blackrock’s performance as was evident last year and whatever the cause Newtown sensed they had a chance. That they capitalised on this chance is to their credit and the celebrations will go on for the week in the North Cork stronghold.

I hope they will give the Munster club championship a serious consideration as they now have the players in the team and the potential to bring the title back to Cork and end its 16-year absence from the county.