by Mark Woods
Evening Echo
Thursday, October 2rd 2003

Part of Newtown's preparation for the replay involved an hour's hurling on the magnificent pitch at Buttevant on Tuesday evening.

This is the time of the year when hurlers try to salvage as much daylight hours as possible to fine-tune their stick-work before darkness descends.

Newtown arranged an hour between 6.30pm and 7.30pm to improve their striking and they were blessed with more summer style weather. Their players are scattered in many directions during working hours. Several are city-based, hence the use of Buttevant, saving them 20 minutes by not holding the session on their own patch.

Cunningham, a dual Limerick minor in 1990, when the Knockainey clubman lost out to Cork in football and Clare in hurling, came part of the Tom Ryan pakcage 12 months ago.

The former Limerick coach was later to move on, but Cunningham stayed, as did selectors Sean Clifford and Patsy Morrissey. Not only were they given the seal of approval by the players, but Cunningham took over the coaching role vacated by Ryan.

"We started training in the first week in February, building up from two nights a week to three, when the fine weather came."

Cunningham's been involved in coaching for the past eight years, beginning with Tralee Institute of Technology and taking in Freshers and Fitzgibbon Cup teams at UL, as well as clubs like Claughaun in Limerick and Craughwell in Galway.

It's very demanding, about an hour's drive to Newtown and back, particulary as he's suffering from rheumatoid arthritis as well.

"Too many wettings on too many cold days over the years," is how he explains a condition usually associated with people older than himself.

"I did a bit of research on it and found that I'm one of 35,000 sufferers in Ireland."

Medication helps, but time is the great healer, so it's just a matter of being patient. Patience was certainly in great demand on Saturday, when Newtown's players put themselves and everyone else through the wringer.

In an age when all mod cons are used to analyse and dissect performances Newtown got their wires crossed in videotaping the match.

"We'd normally go through a match afterwards, but we don't have a tape of the Sars game. Instead the selectors discussed the outcome at length and came up wtih the conclusion that we didn't finish them off."

The players had their say during a half-hour meeting on Monday, when constructive criticism is the only item on the agenda.

"We keep out the negative aspects. This time we were grateful for the players' character in twice coming back. We looked in trouble at the start of the second half and again, when Sars got their second goal near the end."

Cunningham's training philosophy revolves around players using their hurleys most of the time. "The only time they don't use their hurleys is when we're doing pure speed work. Every other time. It's hurley and sliothar."

Newtown wrap up their preparations, before heading into battle once more, hoping they'll still be involved next week.