"We expected a tough game and we got it," said Bernie O' Connor, after champions Newtownshandrum, advanced to the TSB Cork County SHC semi-final in Ballyanly on Saturday, beating off a spirited Carrigdhoun, challenge to book a date with Imokilly.

"When you're up against some of the best junior and intermediate players in the county there's no room for complancency. Everyone expecteed Carrigdhoun to be a soft touch, but I had my players warned to expect a tough game. And we got just that. I'm happy to be over it," added O' Connor.

It was highly competitive all through and in the opening half in particular Carrigdhoun gave the champions plenty to think about with a strong steely performance. Indeed, they served notice in the very first minute when the hard working Frank Walsh had a goal disallowed for hand passing the ball to the net. However, they did take the lead two minutes later with a fine point from Nicholas Murphy after some clever stickwork from Rory Dwyer.

But Newtown, with Ben O' Connor at full-forward and brother Jerry leading the attack, were soon ahead with points from Jerry and John Paul King. But showing grit, with midfielders John Mullaney and Rory Dwyer on top and Brian O' Sullivan, John Burke and Brendan Lombard rock solid in defence, Carrigdhoun were back in front with points from the two midfielders and it was shaping into a nice contest. Then the champions took charge, and following a point from a dubious free by Pat Mulcahy they pounced for their opening goal in the 13th minute, Ben O' Connor setting up King and when they streaked into a 1-6 to 0-3 lead after 18 minutes the divisional men looked in trouble.

A pointed '65 from Dwyer stopped the rot in the the 20th minute and finding a new found urgency they hit Newtown hard as points from Murphy - it could easily have been a goal - Walsh, Patrick O' Dwyer and Walsh again left just two points between the sides and Newtown knew they had a battle in hands.

A 28th minute point from King restored Newtown's goal advantage but, had Carrigdhoun taken their chances - Newtown goalkeeper Paul Morrissey making a great save from Rory Dwyer - the divisional men might well have been ahead instead of trailing 1-8 to 0-8 at the break.

The rain teemed down in the second-half as Newtown adjusted to get more scores. Ben O' Connor was now out on the 40 with Jerry at full-forward and with midfielders Declan Murphy and Ian Kelleher showing more drive they raced into a 1-12 to 0-9 lead by the 43rd minute, Ben O' Connor cutting over one sideline beauty as the champions threatened to take control.

Then Cork minor Michael Prout, not long in the action, stirred things up again with a fine Carrigdhoun goal in the 44th minute to leave just a gaol between the sides entering the final quarter.

Rory Dwyer's free brought that lead down to two points but then the champions showed their mettle with Jerry O' Connor simply majestic, giving an exhibition of point scoring to race into a 1-16 to 1-11 lead by the 54th minute. And Jerry was all smiles again three minutes later, taking a great pass from the impressive King in his stride to fire home a fine goal and that was that.

Prout did have his and Carrigdhoun's second goal, but it came too late to matter. They had given a splendid account of themselves, however and Bernie O' Connor, for one, knew it.

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