Evening Echo, October 14, 2003

So another Cork senior hurling campaign has come and gone and the best team sits easily on the throne. After six games, Midleton, Ballyhea, Imokilly, Sarsfields twice and Blackrock, the Newtownshandrum lads are, unquestionably, worthy champions and the manner of their final victory makes their achievement all the more noteworthy.

Last Sunday’s display against the reigning champions was easily their best of the year, arguably their best since they beame a force in Cork hurling. What was most significant was the balance of the return. Whilst the expected heavier artillery of Ben and Jerry O’Connor and Pat Mulcahy again came up trumps the displays of the lesser known lights was eye catching.

All week coach Ger Cunningham was impressing the need for more players to take responsibility, to stand up and be counted in a similar fashion to the aforementioned. His words did not go unheard and that was why Sean Og Murphy will rest easily in Newtownshandrum for the next 12 months and not in the home of the Rockies.

This was no three or four man effort, this was a unified return from the most focused side to leave Newtown since Bernie O’Connor pioneered the way. Take the three full-backs, John McCarthy again rolled back the years with his best ever performance in the jersey he wears with such pride.

Brendan Mulcahy and Ger O’Mahony were impenetrable alongside him rendering the Blackrock inside division almost totally redundant. In front of them, Ian Kelleher, the majestic Pat Mulcahy and the hugely effective Phil Noonan didn’t put a foot wrong while in the middle Jerry O’Connor and Alan T O’Brien, who overcame a virus, were always to the forefront.

Ben O’Connor illustrated once more why he is the best club forward in Cork and brother John, the hugely impressive James Bowles and JP King all made handsome contributions at one stage or another over the course of the hour.

This was a victory in its entirety, giving lie to the suggestion that this is a three or four man team. There is a passion for hurling in this tiny village that isn’t evident anywhere to the same degree, a point that was strongly made by team boss ger Cunningham last week.

Next Sunday the club’s minor side tackle the old foe Ballyhea in the county final, country section, and the under-14s already have a county tucked away. Just visit Newtown and you will get an illustration of what the place is all about. They sit again at the top table of Cork hurling and their message is very simple, catch us now if you can.