Premier SHC: Goals crucial as St Finbarr's get the better of Newcestown

St Finbarr’s: 3-17 

Newcestown: 0-20 

In a high stakes game, St Finbarr’s held their nerve to defeat Newcestown in the Co-Op SuperStores Premier SHC encounter at Cloughduv on Sunday evening.

While both teams were unable to qualify for the top two going into this final group outing in Group 2, both sides were pointless and required a victory to make sure of avoiding a relegation play-off and that’s what the Togher club, who won the championship as recently as 2022, did. They were pushed hard here with three first-half goals proving crucial for them.

It took some time for the Barrs to get going, but once they did, it was enough to get past a plucky Newcestown side who died with their boots on. 

Despite the loss, Newcestown have, in the end, avoided the dreaded slán leat play-off due to other results going their way.

Newcestown were aided by a strong wind in the first half, and made the most of it in the early stages. They led 0-4 to 0-1 after five minutes with Richard O’Sullivan slotting over three difficult frees.

The sides traded points before St Finbarr’s got a huge shot in the arm with a vital goal after eight minutes when Jack Cahalane set up Ethan Twomey who made no mistake to riffle the ball to the net. A pair of Colm O’Donovan points restored Newcestown’s advantage, but St Finbarr’s were getting a grip around the middle with Twomey excelling as they hit four of the next six white flags, 1-6 to 0-9 after 17 minutes.

Under a minute later, the Togher club struck for a second goal. Great play from Jack Cahalane and Brian Hayes resulted in William Buckley having an easy finish. The teams swapped points until Buckley got his second goal after 21 minutes when he finished with aplomb. Hayes playing another key role in the build-up, 3-7 to 0-10.

Newcestown did hit the last three points of the half from two Colm Dinneen efforts and an O’Sullivan free, but they had a big hill to climb after the break, 3-7 to 0-13 at half-time.

St Finbarr’s had a strong wind advantage for the new half as they started slowly once again. The teams did swap the first four points of the second half before an O’Sullivan free cut the gap down to two points after 36 minutes.

Buckley and Hayes bisected the posts for their team, but another O’Sullivan placed ball left a goal between the teams, 3-11 to 0-17.

The game tipped along as St Finbarr’s kept their opposition at bay. They hit three of the next four points to lead 3-14 to 0-18 with 10 minutes remaining. A boomer from Jack Cahalane pushed his side six points clear.

The teams exchanged white flags before the Barrs saw out the game with no drama. David Buckley did point for Newcestown in added time, but Jack Cahalane finished the scoring with a point.

Relief for St Finbarr's and for Newcestown. 

Scorers for St Finbarr’s: W Buckley 2-1, B Cunningham 0-6 (0-2 f), J Cahalane 0-5, E Twomey 1-1, B Hayes 0-2, A Casey, E Finn 0-1 each.

Newcestown: R O'Sullivan 0-10 f, C Dinneen 0-4, Colm O’Donovan, D Buckley 0-2 each, S O’Donovan, N Kelly 0-1 each.

ST FINBARR’S: S Hurley; E Keane, J Burns, A Casey; C Crowley, D Cahalane, E Finn; E Twomey, C Doolan; B Cunningham, P Buggy, J Cahalane; J Wigginton-Barrett, B Hayes, W Buckley.

Subs: S Cunningham for A Casey (46), C O’Connor for J Wigginton-Barrett (58), A Barry for P Buggy (61).

NEWCESTOWN: C Wilson; M McSweeney, F Keane, J Kelleher; C O’Neill, L Meade, E Collins; T Twomey, Colm O’Donovan; S O’Donovan, R O’Sullivan, D Buckley; C Dinneen, Ciarán O’Donovan, N Kelly.

Subs: O Walsh for N Kelly (46).

Referee: Diarmuid Kirwan (Éire Óg).