Mulcahy Inspires 14-man Newtown ....

CALLING on all their experience and brilliantly marshalled by outstanding centre-back Pat Mulcahy, 14-man Newtownshandrum edged out Midleton, 1-10 to 0-12 in Castletownroche on Saturday in an opening round permanent tsb Cork County SHC contest.

In the end Alan O’Brien’s late point won the contest for Newtown, but they had to battle mightily against a Midleton side that gave little away.

The omens did not look good for the Avondhu men in the opening half, after which they trailed 0-8 to 0-5 after having John O’Connor sent off.

With the Newtown backs persistently fouling Mickey O’Connell had a field day from placed balls, scoring six frees in that opening half, the other points coming from a superb Liam Walsh effort and John Moynihan.

Midleton led 0-4 to 0-2 after the opening quarter, Jerry O’Connor scoring both Newtown points. But O’Connell continued to punish Newtown in the second quarter until a couple of points from Ben O’Connor and a ’65 from Phil Noonan put a bit more respectability on the half-time scoreboard.

The introduction of Mike Morrissey at centre-forward, though clearly still carrying an injury, was to prove a huge fillip for Newtown. Morrissey pointed with his first touch, then Ben O’Connor and Alan O’Brien followed suit. And then came a A cracking 40th minute Newtown goal followed when Donal Mulcahy put Ben O’Connor through and the Cork ace made no mistake.

Amazingly Midleton had plenty of chances in between with O’Connell and the disappointing Ger Manley missing frees. But in fairness to the Magpies their heads never dropped after falling 1-8 to 0-8 behind and with O’Connell and Liam Walsh driving them on they hit back again to leave just a point between the sides entering the final quarter.

In a terrific final 15 minutes O’Connell tied up the scores. Walsh then went close to a goal only for Phil Noonan to put the Avondhu men ahead again. O’Connell’s ninth free looked like making it a stalemate until Alan O’Brien’s late point got Newtwon through and left Midleton shattered.