NEW Newcestown hurling boss Daniel Twomey is the youngest manager in the Cork premier senior hurling grade for 2026, but isn’t overawed by the challenge.

The 35-year-old begins his tenure with a Division 2 opener away to Na Piarsaigh this Sunday (2pm).

‘It is a big role, but I don’t mind it to be honest. I’m enjoying it. I miss playing in the Tuesday and Thursday trainings, but I have no excuse now not to be giving out to fellas,’ he laughs.

‘I played a bit of junior B football last year when our keeper got injured. My playing days are past me now and I’m liking this new role.’

He feels ready for this new role, having served his apprenticeship with various teams – selector with the club footballers, coaching St Mary’s hurlers, and also involved with Newcestown camogie and underage teams.

Now it’s time to step up. Twomey’s backroom team includes Conor O’Donovan and Rick Bradfield as selectors, with Waterford native Wayne Power coming in as coach.

He is also drawing on the experience of former managers within the club. Charlie Wilson and Niall O’Sullivan both did solid work with the West Cork side in recent seasons.

‘I’m still in contact with all the past managers. When I was asked to do this job, I had a phone conversation with Charlie. I was onto Niall as well last year about what went well and what didn’t. I’d still be in touch with everyone. It’s not just me, it’s a club thing. You can bounce questions off anyone, to be fair. That’s a good trait about Newcestown,’ Twomey explains.

‘A lot of fellas around my age are still playing and don’t want to take that step into management. I’m relishing it though and really looking forward to it.’

It’s a new venture for the players too as they step up to Division 2 hurling.

Newcestown were promoted from Division 3 last year and, given that the club compete in the top tier of Cork hurling, the more competitive games they get, the better.

‘It’s a new challenge going up a division. Hopefully we’ll get a stronger team out of it and build a panel. We’re looking forward to it,’ Twomey said.

‘Looking at the calibre of teams in it, it’s probably going to be a step up for us. What helps is that we have Division 1 football every two weeks as well. The league is about building a panel and getting fellas as ready for the championship as we can.’

The Carbery outfit will have a demanding championship group as they face St Finbarr’s, Midleton and Bride Rovers later in the year – all the more reason to test themselves against fellow premier senior sides Kanturk, Newtownshandrum and Bride during the spring.

‘Playing Newtown in the championship last year was a great challenge. What’s funny is we have Bride Rovers in the first round of the championship and we play them in the last round of the league too. It’s something to look forward to. I’m hoping we can improve and take another step towards premier senior standard.’

Other than Gearóid O’Donovan, who has gone travelling, the panel remains largely unchanged for the league.

With Newcestown also competing in Division 1 of the football league, the squad will be under pressure in the coming weeks – but that’s nothing new.

‘We see it as a positive. If one is going well, the other seems to follow. The lads enjoy the break from football one week and then from hurling the following week,’ Twomey added.

‘From here, touch wood, we hopefully won’t get any injuries. Everyone is around and they all seem to be pushing the wheel forward. We’re in a good place.’

The recent spell of bad weather has caused havoc, but the club’s astro complex has proved a major help. Opened in April 2025, the senior hurlers have been using it extensively in preparation for their league campaign.

‘We have an astro in Newcestown, but it’s not full-size. It’s hard to get much hurling done with the weather. Other clubs are probably in the same boat – the winter has been a disaster. Pitches are impossible to get.

‘The astro is a massive positive. I don’t know what we’d be doing without it. It was a great investment from the club, in fairness. The place is hopping every night of the week in January, February and March,’ added Twomey, excited for his first league campaign at the helm.