by Mark Woods
Evening Echo
Thursday, October 2rd 2003

The advert says the future is orange.

Up Newtownshandrum way the future is rosy.

Former juvenile chairman Liam Ryan enthuses about the next crop of hurlers coming through. "In terms of numbers we don't have the same pick as some of the big clubs. Between the ages of 10 and 18 we probably have about 50-60 players, but the talent is there," he said.

Fielding 15 players of the age is always a problem as Newtown are finding out. "For example we'd have two U11 players playing with the U14s, who would have nine players eligible again next year."

"With the U12s we'd have five or six U10s, so we'd struggle physically against teams who'd have an entire team of players of the age."

There's a great rivlary developing between Newtown and Blackrock and it's not just confined to senior ranks either. A goal with the last puck of the game gave the Rockies victory in a Feile na nGael semi-final during the summer.

And they repeated the dose on Sunday with three goals in the closing eight minutes to win the county U14 final by 4-7 to 1-12. Newtown completed a three-in-a-row of North Cork U12 titles this season and the club's minors are in the country section final against Ballyhea, having come through theh back door system.

Sons of former Newtown greats are carrying on the tradition and ensuring senior hurling will always be available.

Current selector Seanie Clifford, who kept goal for Newtown and Avondhu in an intermediate and senior double in 1996, has two sons, Billy and Ryan, at full-back and full-forward respectively with the 14s.

Jack Herlihy, son of the 'great' Pat Herlihy, extends a long family tradition into the next generation and his performances at centre-back have impressed many on-lookers.

Newtown supplied three players to the Cork U14 team, including Michael Bowles, brother of senior full-forward James Bowles, whilel half-forward Richard Farrissey is another with a bright future.

"I think when the players come to be U16's and minors, Newtown will be a strong force at those levels. I'm very optimistic about the future," said Ryan.