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Newtown to maintain their Munster record
THERE was no shortage of pessimism surrounding Newtownshandrum’s prospects when they embarked on the trail of county championship glory in 2003.
Since making the historic breakthrough three years earlier, Newtown’s tender-aged team had endured a couple of fruitless seasons, shipping a drubbing at the hands of East Cork divisional side Imokilly in the 2001 semi-final and going under rather tamely as well to Blackrock in the 2002 final.
It caused many to suggest that their march to the top in 2000 had been something of a flash-in-the-pan, not least because they hadn’t encountered either Imokilly, back to back champions in 1997 and 1998, or title holders Blackrock along the way.
Newtown were always likely to be there-or-thereabouts of course, and it was no major surprise when they advanced to the county final for the third time in four seasons. But the perception was that they would be hard-pressed to do the business in the decider against the Rockies, who were chasing a hat-trick of titles and a fourth in five seasons.
Spurred on by a desire to atone for their slump in the 2002 final, however, Newtown made a mockery of most predictions as they stormed to an unflattering 0-17 to 1-9 victory.
In the process, they provided concrete evidence that they had now reached full maturity, and were likely to remain a major force for the remainder of the decade.
That was more or less confirmed when they went on to collect the Munster club title for the first time, having been eliminated by Waterford’s Mount Sion when they initially tested the water in the provincial series in 2000.
Toomevara of Tipperary and Limerick’s Patrickswell were Newtown’s victims in Munster, and, predictably, Fr. Murphy’s of London were smoothly dispatched in an All-Ireland quarter-final in Ruislip after that.
After accounting for Kilkenny’s O’Loughlin Gaels, in a replay, and Antrim’s Dunloy in turn, Newtown were crowned All-Ireland champions in 2004, an achievement that surpassed all their expectations perhaps, given the widespread reservations about their ability to reclaim the county title in 2003.
There were few eyebrows raised, however, after Newtown won a third county and a second Munster crown in 2005. But their bid for a second All-Ireland was aborted by Galway’s Portumna in the 2006 final, and their fortunes took a downturn over the next three seasons.
Dethroned by Cloyne in the 2006 county semi-final, they performed well below par when succumbing to Erin’s Own in the final two years ago.
It was a similar story last year when they failed to make it to the semi-finals for the first time since 2000, and they could have no complaints following their elimination by a youthful Sarsfields side. It led to speculation that their best days might be behind them, so, as in 2003, Newtown had a point to prove heading into this year’s county championship.
It was obvious they were hell-bent on silencing their critics and restoring their dented pride when they qualified for their sixth final by virtue of decisive wins over Glen Rovers (twice), UCC and St. Finbarr’s.
For all that, they weren’t especially fancied to turn the tables when they renewed rivalry with defending champions Sars, who had, arguably, been even more impressive en route to the decider. But Newtown rose to the challenge in great style, serving up an awesome display to fashion a victory that was every bit as comprehensive as the 3-22 to 1-12 scoreline suggests.
Once they emerged as kingpins on Leeside again, it was always on the cards that Newtown would make a bold bid for further glory in the Munster club championship where they had proved worthy standard-bearers for the Rebel County in 2003 and 2005. No mean achievement that, bearing in mind that all other Cork representatives have faltered in the provincial arena since Midleton went all the way in 1987.
The self-belief accruing from their previous exploits was almost certainly a factor in allowing Newtown to come through a couple of stern tests from Thurles Sarsfields of Tipperary and Limerick’s Adare to book a place in next Sunday’s final at Semple Stadium.
In the opposite corner will be Waterford’s Ballygunner, who will be operating in very familiar territory, having contested four finals since 1996.
Runners-up in 1996 and 1999, they made it third time lucky in 2001 when coming up trumps against Blackrock. But Newtown edged them out by a point, 0-16 to 1-12, in the 2005 final, and, after finishing among the also-rans in Waterford over the next three seasons, Ballygunner appeared to be a team in decline until they gained a new lease of life under the stewardship of former Cork goalkeeper Ger Cunningham this year.
They were fortunate to get the better of wasteful Clare kingpins Cratloe, who were competing in the Munster club championship for the first time, in the semi-final when their greater physicality and experience made all the difference as they came through by 1-14 to 0-15 at Walsh Park two weeks ago.
To avenge their 2005 defeat by Newtown would appear to be a much taller order, however, for a Ballygunner side backboned by old hands such as Wayne Hutchinson, Alan Kirwan, Andy Moloney, Colin Kehoe, Shane O’Sullivan and former Waterford greats Fergal Hartley and Paul Flynn, who will line out at centre back and full forward respectively.
Their history in Munster means they will have to be respected, all the more so considering hurling games constitute a test of durability and resolve as much as speed and ability at this time of year. But Newtown are on the march again, and they don’t need to learn anything about the requirements for success in the rigours of winter combat at this stage.
Energised by the infusion of some fresh blood, and with Ben O’Connor, Jerry O’Connor, Pat Mulcahy, Cathal Naughton, Brendan Mulcahy, Philip Noonan and Dermot Gleeson numbered among the players in the starting fifteen who engineered Ballygunner’s downfall four years ago, there can be no questioning their credentials ahead of Sunday’s rematch.
They should have what it takes to maintain an unblemished record in Munster finals, and continue on a remarkable odyssey that has enabled them to gain recognition as the modern-day aristocrats of Cork hurling since emerging from intermediate ranks in 1996.