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 20th February 2004 | |||
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By John Horgan
They had come from six points behind with 20 minutes remaining to lead
by one and forced Ben O’Connor to equalise for Newtown from a very acute
angle at the death.
The body language afterwards suggested that the Kilkenny champions were
the happier campers departing Semple Stadium.
But a week is a long time and whatever pangs of regret
Newtown felt at allowing the Gaels back into the game after their goose
looked cooked will have well and truly disappeared by 2pm tomorrow at
the same venue.
Thurles is becoming a bit of a second home to the Cork champions. This
will be their fourth trip to the hallowed ground in a short few months and,
despite last Sunday’s second-half failure to put the Gaels away when
they found themselves in a very advantageous position, it’s been a case of so
far so good.
On the evidence presented in the drawn encounter it’s going to be very
difficult to separate these two again.
The Gaels looked very good in the opening 10 minutes when Maurice Nolan
was creating havoc in the Newtown defence and when they led by six points
to two.
Then the Newtown engine went into overdrive and they turned a
four-point deficit into a four-point half-time lead.
The opening 10 minutes of the second half suggested it was going to be
their day until again the plot changed until Ben O’Connor sliced the sticks
for the equalising point.
His full fitness remains a major worry for the Newtown camp and will he
have the same dominating influence he had over Andy Comerford that he had
last Sunday until near exhaustion forced him into the full-forward line?
There was general dissatisfaction with the performance of the referee in
the drawn game and he did not have a good day at the office.
However, Newtown were the architects of their own near downfall in the
second half when they questioned nearly every decision made which
subsequently led to the ball being moved in favour of ace free taker
Nigel Skehan.
That type of indiscipline cannot be repeated this time whatever
decisions the referee may arrive at.
There is likely to be no change on either side with Ben O’Connor again
lining out on the 40 and hoping for a repeat performance on the much
vaunted Comerford.
There is still an over dependence on O’Connor and his brother Gerry to
come up with the goods all the time.
What will happen if one of these days their remarkable hurling talents
are curbed. Where then will the scores come from?
Simply put, there will have to be a more balanced return and more score
getting from the other forwards.
Of course the same could be said for O’Loughlin Gaels who too were over
dependent on Skehan to put scores on the board from frees.
Newtown too might not get away with such a sluggish start this time.
Only for Dan Riordan’s goal the picture might have been a whole lot
different.
On the other side of the coin they will have to copperfasten any
significant advantage they have and if they find themselves in a similar situation,
six points to the good with 20 minutes remaining, they must bury the
opposition and not be reliant on last gasp dubious frees.
The Comerford influence was limited last Sunday, Andy very much second
best to Ben O’Connor, while brother Martin struggled at times to live up to
his reputation.
Like Newtown they will be hoping not to be depending on frees to keep
them in contention and will be looking for a lot more from Jimmy Comerford,
Colin Furlong and Brian Dowling.
O’Loughlin Gaels seem to have a liking for replays and their recent
record in them has been good.
However, if players like JP King, Donal Mulcahy and James Bowles can
be more influential in the Newtown attack and if Ben and Jerry do the
business again, they can come out of this on the right side.
They have illustrated thus far that they are more than capable of
living in illustrious company outside of Cork.
A more concentrated effort this time will see them planning for Paddy’s
Day.
Verdict: Newtownshandrum.
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