Newcestown ready for another tilt in both codes: 'League is attritional for dual clubs'
Alan O'Callaghan, Blackrock, tracking Jack Meade, Newcestown. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
Dual club Newcestown are gearing up for another busy year and ready to make their mark in the 2025 McCarthy Insurance Group Cork Premier SFC.
It has been a rollercoaster couple of years for Newcestown’s footballers. 2022 resulted in a Premier SFC relegation play-off loss at the hands of Éire Óg. 2023 delivered an immediate rebound back to the top grade following a 0-13 to 0-8 win over Carbery rivals Dohenys in the Senior A county final. Even more impressively, the same panel of players claimed Senior A hurling county honours that same year.
Back in the Premier SFC, last season saw Newcestown perform to a consistent level but fail to emerge from a group containing Nemo Rangers, Ballincollig and Éire Óg.
For manager Jim O’Sullivan, next year involves dealing with the usual dual commitments and facing fresh opponents following the recent county championship draws.
In terms of dual-player demands, few clubs handle those increased commitments better than Newcestown.
“I suppose I’m singing this tune the last couple of years but it is the same bunch of players and they are all fully committed to Newcestown GAA,” Jim O’Sullivan said.
“We have a common Strength and Conditioning coach in Niall McIntyre and he has been excellent for us. He’s kind of a buffer between football and hurling.
“Both sets of selectors get on well and you have to because it is the same bunch of players.
Clearly, Newcestown’s honest approach has reaped dividends with the club ready to contest Premier senior hurling and football championships once again.
“This approach has worked out for us over the years and history proves that,” O’Sullivan added.
“On the flip side, if you look at a single code club, when it comes to the championship, they can take two or three weeks off to work on things. We can’t which is a disadvantage. Then, sometimes if you are on a good run yourself, it is an advantage.”
The recent Cork GAA county football championship draw has pitted Newcestown against Castlehaven, Mallow and Valley Rovers. Starting off against top seeds and their West Cork rivals, Jim O’Sullivan’s side will face last year’s surprise package Mallow and then their close neighbours Valleys.
Reigning champions Castlehaven will be favourites to top the group but the runners-up berth could turn into a dogfight. Newcestown has lost to the Haven on three occasions since the introduction of the new Premier Senior grade back in 2020.
An opportunity to turn the tables on the defending champions is something Jim O’Sullivan and his players will relish.
“The county championships are a fantastic format and you do find your level,” the Newcestown football manager commented.
“The fact there are only 12 clubs in the championship means you’re going to have some repetition.
“So hopefully we’ll be able to turn the tables even though they are county champions and probably will be the favourites going in again.
“As for the other two teams, I suppose even though Valley Rovers are our neighbours, we haven’t played them in a long time, even in the county league. So that’s going to be new.
“The same for Mallow. They got to the county semi-finals. So, I always say it but with the new format, every draw is going to be tough. Hopefully, we can do something positive in next year’s championship but, look, every team is going to be saying the exact same thing.
“Before all of that, we will have to re-evaluate the county league to a certain extent from the football side of things. It is 18 weeks, nine for football and nine for hurling. The league is very attritional and, I think, too many games for a dual club.
“So, in the county league, we will be focusing on blooding new players and making sure we don’t pick up any serious injuries.”
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