It wasn't the easy ride some had predicted, but Newtownshandrum provided the answers when the questions were asked in this TSB Cork Co SHC quarter-final at Ballyanly on Saturday.

The champions are into the last four again and they are not going to let go of this title easily.

They didn't set the pulses racing this time, as they had done against the Glen earlier in the year, but the feeling was always there that their superior teamwork and their greater potency in front of the posts would carry the day.

And that's exactly how it panned out. The O' Connor twins were very much to the forefront with Jerry making the more significant mark on the proceedings. Three sublime points in the 19th, 20th and 21st minutes, when the outcome was in some doubt, put daylight between the sides and when he executed goal number two a few minutes later, the game was up for the divisional side.

Brother Ben contributed handsomely as well and John Paul King produced one of his best ever displays in a Newtown jersey which he embellished with a quality goal in the 13th minute of the first half.

Newtown led 1-8 to 0-8 at the break and were fortunate enough to be in that position. John Mullaney and Rory Dwyer gave as good as they got in midfield with Nicholas Murphy and Frank Waslh causing a problem or two up front.

No doubt, Bernie O' Connor uttered a few home truths in the dressingroom and the response was just what he wanted.

Points from Phil Noonan, Ben O' Connor, Declan Murphy and a superb sideline cut from O' Connor put them in the driving seat at 1-11 to 0-9 but supersub, Michael Prout kept Carrig's pot boiling with a goal in the 44th minute.

Rory Dwyer reduced the deficit to two points but it was then a case of cometh the hour, cometh the man and that man was Jerry' Connor.

Prout rifled home another Carrigdhoun goal in the 58th minute but by then their goose was cooked. Not an awe inspiring performance by Newtown, workmanlike would probably be a more apt description.

However, they arrived safely in the semis and are firmly focused on their task again. Afterwards a drenched but satisfied Bernie O' Connor reflected on the job just completed, stating that he was glad to have surmounted this tricky enough assignment. "I had a feeling all the week that this wasn't going to be easy. Everyone was telling them that Carrigdhoun had never won anything but you must respect every opposition.

"Today was a case in point that you never underestimate anyone. I certainly didn't, after all they have the two best junior teams in the county with three or four intermediate sides. You had to be wary of them. I am delighted to have got through. We improved in the second half and we did seem to be able to rise it if we wanted to.

"But's that a dangerous game to be playing. If we played brillant and won by 20 points you were still only in the semi-final anyway and if that was the case they might become too cocky. This brings fellows back to earth after the Glen match. But you must remember they were bad and we know there's still a long way to go yet," he added.

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