by Pat Ryan
The Corkman
Friday, October 16th 2003

There were scenes of great emotion in Newtownshandrum on Sunday night as the newly crowned county champions brought home the Sean Og Murphy Cup.

Traffic was miles long from Buttevant, through Ballyhea and Charleville as this young all conquering side made their way to the little village of Newtown. It was remarked that Glory Newtown, the club history, would have to be rewritten again.

The open deck bus carrying the heroes, and many young supporters, stopped a mile form the village as the cortege of about three miles long made its way.

The Newmarket Pipe Band led the parade into the village as thousands of people lined the streets. It was then onto the GAA Centre where the huge complex was packed to capacity before the team and officials arrived.

Players and mentors signed autographs for many people and the support from all over the Division and also from South and West Limerick was great.

After about an hour the team and club mentors made their way onto the stage. Newtown chairman Christy Morrissey then took over and spoke of his great satisfaction of being chairman of this great club and the honour the panel of players brought to the club today.

He then introduced Fr Brendan Wrixon, PP, and he spoke of the outstanding achievement of the Newtown hurlers in beating Blackrock in their own back yard in a thrilling county final.

"I have been in Newtown for the past ten years and in this period they have won six County title - three under 21s, one intermediate and two senior," he said.

He also spoke of the great dedication to sport of the people of the parish and he wished them luck in the forthcoming Munster Championship.

An example of the huge crowd that greeted the return of the Newtownshandrum senior hurling team on Sunday after their county final win.

He remembered how he was approached by Patsy Morrissey at the start of the year and he paid tribute to all 26 members of the panel for their outstanding contribution to regular training.

Newtown ran Blackrock off the field today and there is only one Ben O'Connor who was awarded man of the match with a personal tally of 10 points.

He paid tribute to the work of the other selectors Patsy Morrissey and Sean Clifford and hoped that the players would enjoy their success but be back training again soon for the Munster Club championship.

Team captain, John McCarthy, next to speak and he received a rousing applause when he lifted the cup. John paid tribute to this great bunch of players for their hard work over the year.

He said he was confident in the week leading up to the final that Newtown would come good on the day.

"We never achieved what we are capable of doing last year and we were determined on this occasion to lay down a marker from the start and we got the good start and hurled very well all through."

He continued: "the type of hurling that Newtown play is hard to match, with our speed, teamwork and accuracy. We won in 2000 but some were saying we had not beaten the big boys. Today we answered the critics by beating Blackrock the club leading the roll of honour with 32 county senior titles and seeking three-in-a-row."

Newtownshandrum captain John McCarthy - with Sean Og Murphy - addresses the large crowd at the GAA centre.

John went on to add that in 2000 we had to go out in the Munster club the following week. This year it is a bit different we have five or six weeks and we will be all out to do our best in this competition.

"Newtown is a club that is developing all the time with major progress in the grounds, the teams need to be winning and we hope to continue in this vein." He said.

Christy Morrissey then called on Dan O'Riordan whom he stated gave a rousing speech in the dressing room prior to the game that lifted the side.

Dan a very shy individual, who has been around with this side longer than most, and he received the loudest cheer of the night.

He stated he played with most of the current players fathers and he was delighted to come on in today's county final.

It is a team effort and he urged all the panel to enjoy the party but that there is some serious business yet to be attended to in the form of the Munster Club Championship.