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 Evening Echo 23rd February 2004 | |||
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BEDLAM on the field, bedlam off it as Newtown supporters put their plans
in place for the Paddy’s day trip to the capital.
However, the coolest man in Thurles afterwards Pat Horan from Offaly
had called time was Newtown coach Ger Cunningham, whose star is rising daily in the great hurling home in North Cork.
“Thrilled, I am absolutely over the moon. You dream of days like this
for such a small place, a village, it’s unbelievable.’’
“It was hard earned, we knew it woud be. We knew our game would be
suited to
playing against the wind in the first-half and we knew if we settled
and started running at them we would be in there.
“We didn’t get the lead we might have wanted in the first-half but we
were happy enough going a point up.”
“And we knew there was a performance in the players who had been
criticised
during the week after the drawn match’’.
What was spoken in the dressingroom during half-time ?
“It was all very calm, we had our few words, asked a few questions and
I think the big difference for us today was that we were focused for an
hour. “ We knew what was going to be needed to win and we concentrated for
that full hour.
“I would not be critical of any of the lads because they all tried
their
hearts out. Ben was outstanding again, didn’t repeat the performance
of
last week but his workrate was phenomenal.
“We have three weeks now and we’ll put our heads down again. By no
means is
it going to be easy, Dunloy have been there before, are a huge physical
team
but we’ll be ready.’’
A few yards away, Ben O’Connor was being mobbed by joyous supporters as
he
reflected on another famous triumph for the small club with a huge
hear.
“I suppose the last time a Cork team got to the final if someone said
it
would be Newtown who would be the next team to make it they’d have
been
laughed at.
“But it just shows what can be done if you put in the effort. If you
have 24
or 25 fellows putting in that effort it can happen.
“The difference today from last Sunday was that then we knew nothing
about
them then but we did today after playing them and looking at the video.
“In the last 15 minutes last Sunday we were burned out but that game
sharpened us up and brought up our fitness level.
“Today we lasted the pace and in the end that made the difference.
“We’ll be back training on
Tuesday night, working on game plans against what will be a big
physical
challenge from Dunloy.
“But we have full faith in our own ability and it will be some occasion
in
Croke Park.’’
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