Coming just four years after they had lifted the intermediate title, Newtownshandrum's achievement in claiming the TSB County Senior Hurling Championship crown last season was worthy of the utmost admiration.

There could be no quibbling about the merit of Newtown's historic march to the top as they produced sparklin displays to comfortably account for Ballincollig and UCC in their opening two games before showing commendable grit and determination to shade a couple of stirring duels with divisional sides Avondhu and Muskerry, and combining qualities of style and steel to fashion an unflattering 0-14 to 0-11 win over Erins Own in the final

For all that, there were those who felt that Bernie O'Connor's tender-aged team had enjoyed the rub of the green in 2000 in that the shock elimination of '99 kingpins Blackrock by Midleton, who later fell to Muskerry, had made their passage to the final so much easier.

Similarly, it was argued that Imokilly's unexpected defeat in a semi-final replay by Erins Own was just what the doctor ordered as far as Newtown were concerned, and that they would have found it much more difficult to garner the glory had the vastly-experienced East Cork divisional side provided the opposition in the decider.

Apart from a minor hiccup when, missing a few key players, they went under to St. Finbarr's in the first-round, Newtown have provided ample evidence in the current championship to suggest that they are equipped to make a bold bid for ultimate honours again.

Comprehensive wins over Seandun, Glen Rovers, by 18 points, and, to a lesser extent, Carrigdhoun have seen them safely through to the semi-finals, and there is no doubting at this stage that they are firmly focused on the task of putting two titles back to back.

But Newtown's detractors haven't gone away, and they would contend that the acid test will come for the North-Cork men when they throw down the gauntlet to Imokilly in Pairc Ui Chaoimh next Sunday evening.

Imokilly's record is second to none in recent times, and they haven't failed to qualify for the last four since they bowed out to St. Finbarr's at the quarter-final stage in 1994.

Pipped by a point by Ballyhea in the '95 semi-final, they went under narrowly to Avondhu in a final replay in '96 before going on to scale the summit under the stewardship of Seanie O'Leary in the next two campaigns.

Ironically, it was Joe Deane, now a key member of the Imokilly attack, who was instrumental in terminating the bid for the three-in-a-row in '99 when he scored a last-gasp goal to earn UCC a two point victory in the semi-final.

Likewise, Imokilly, four points to the good with time rapidly running out, had the laurels snatched from their grasp in the drawn game with Erins Own 12 months ago, and the feeling was that the bubble had burst for the team when they failed to produce anything close to their true form in the replay.

The installation of a new coach, Donie Morrissey of Aghada, appears to have given Imokilly a fresh impetus, however, and they have done all that has been asked of them so far this year, making fairly light work of dispatching Bishopstown, Cloyne and Sars in turn.

For a variety of reasons, not least the graduation of Cloyne and Castlelyons to senior ranks, the Imokilly line-up has changed considerably over the past few seasons, and indeed Mark Landers and goalkeeper Bernard Rochford, of Killeagh, Derek Barrett and Mick Daly, of Cobh, Sean Barrett of Carrigtwohill, Ronan Dwane of Aghada, and Brendan Coleman of Youghal comprise the only survivors from their '98 county final win over Sars.

But the sheer depth of talent in East-Cork means that there has been little or no diminution in Imokilly's strength, and such as Jason Barrett and Niall McCarthy of Carrigtwohill, John Flavin of Fr. O'Neill's, Ger Melvin and Vincent Morrissey of Aghada and Andrew Murphy of Youghal have all slotted in nicely this season.

Add in the recruitment by Killeagh of Waterford inter-county man Johnny Brenner, not to mention Joe Deane's return to the fold from UCC, and it becomes obvious that Imokilly's current combination is as formidable as any they have assembled since the mid nineties.

It's on the cards that Newtown will face a most searching test of their credentials in Sunday evening's eagerly-awaited showdown.

But the opportunity to quell all suggestions that their momentus success last year was something of a flash-in-the-pan will be a huge spur to the holders.

And, while Imokilly are fancied by the bookies to advance, it would hardly go down as a major surprise if Newtown manage to come up trumps.

They have a very settled team now, with the injured Mike Morrissey, undoubtedly a huge loss, the sole absentee from last year's successful side, and they possess potential match-winners in centre-back Pat Mulcahy, and Ben O'Connor, Gerry O'Connor and John Paul King in attack.

Such as Philip Noonan, Brendan Mulcahy, seasoned corner-backs, John Griffin and John McCarthy, and Cork minor Gerry O'Mahony have been models of consistency in defence this season in front of excellent goalkeeper, Paul Morrissey, while last year's skipper, Donal Mulcahy, is another Newtown forward that won't be easily held in check.

It would be a huge boost to Newtown's prospects if the hard-working Ian Kelleher and Declan Murphy can hold their own at midfield against the more accomplished Imokilly pairing of Derek and Jason Barrett.

Ultimately, however, one feels the outcome will depend on the extent of Newtown's success in limiting the threat from Joe Deane, who, ominously perhaps for the champions, was in devastating form during Killeagh's victory over Blarney in the intermediate championship last weekend.

One thing for sure, Imokilly will find the going much tougher than in '99 when they were by no means flattered to finish with two points to spare, 1-14 to 1-12, over a developing Newtown side in a quarter-final game.

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