Newcestown miss out on Premier Senior quarter-final despite terrific display against Newtown
Richard O'Sullivan, Newcestown, winning this ball from Cormac O'Brien of Newtownshandrum in their Co-Op Superstores Premier SHC match at Blarney, Cork. Picture Dan Linehan
Despite an assured seven-point win for Newcestown in the final round of the Co-Op Superstores Cork Premier SHC in Blarney on Sunday, their championship has come to an end for 2025.
With Midleton getting the better of Charleville in the other Group 2 game, it is these two clubs that progress to the quarter-final. Newtownshandrum, meanwhile, face a relegation battle with Erin’s Own.
For the winners, who were never led, Richard O’Sullivan scored 2-10. And Jack Meade struck 1-2, while also showing his skill to convert an exceptional sideline cut.
Newtownshandrum trailed by three points early in the second half, 1-16 to 0-16, but the game went away from them thereafter.
In the 39th minute Jack Meade had the sliotar in the net and the west Cork outfit began to pull away.
Even though sub Michael Lenihan pulled a goal back six minutes from time, Richard O’Sullivan blasted a penalty in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
Newcestown opened with the wind and while in the first 10 minutes the teams were level four times, they capitalised hitting five points without reply, 0-9 to 0-4 on the quarter hour mark.
The scores were coming fast and furious, led by Richard O’Sullivan, Colm O’Donovan, Edmund Kenneally and Luke Meade.
Mattie Ryan’s block on Kenneally’s goal shot was vital for Newtown.
Jamie Coughlan brought it back to three points.
In the 17th minute, Richard O’Sullivan ran on to the sliotar after Colm Dinneen provided the pass, and he rolled the ball over the line.
Gearóid O’Donovan made it 1-10 to 0-6.
Newtownshandrum responded through Conor Griffin, who returned five points overall, and Tim O’Mahony.
Newcestown came to the fore once more and they finished the half with a Jack Meade point for a 1-15 to 0-12 lead at half-time.
Newtownshandrum accounted for the first three white flags of the second half from Conor Twomey, a huge wind-assisted free from O’Mahony and one from play by Turlough O’Neill.
Newcestown were threatening a goal, Seán O’Donovan denied by Cormac O’Brien as the ball went for a 65, which Richard O’Sullivan converted.
Dinnen then showed wonderful control as he found Cormac O’Sullivan and the finish was provided by Jack Meade for Newcestown’s second goal, 2-17 to 0-16.
Seán O’Donovan continued to cause trouble for the Newtown defence as his side reeled off another three points.
O’Mahony had moved from midfield to attack for Newtown and when Lenihan netted - the goal set up by Griffin - it was a five-point game.
O’Mahony was hauled down by Gearóid O’Donovan near goal, but O’Mahony’s close-in free was saved and ended up wide.
With the clock running down, O’Mahony stood over a similar free and this time it was deflected for a 65.
They couldn’t break down the Newcestown rearguard.
A Newcestown team that wasn’t done just yet.
Richard O’Sullivan fired a penalty to the top left-hand corner in the 65th minute.
R O’Sullivan (2-10, 1-0 pen, 0-6 f, 0-2 65), J Meade (1-2, 0-1 sl), E Kenneally and G O’Donovan (0-2 each), C O’Donovan, L Meade, S O’Sullivan, D Buckley, C Dinneen (0-1 each).
J Coughlan (0-3 f), C Griffin (0-5 each), T O’Mahony (0-4, 0-3 f), M Lenihan (1-0), C Twomey and T O’Neill (0-2 each), M Ryan and K O’Sullivan (0-1 each).
C Wilson; M McSweeney, E Collins, J Kelleher (c); Colm O’Donovan, L Meade, C O’Sullivan; G O’Donovan, R O’Sullivan; C Dinneen, J Meade, S O’Sullivan; S O’Donovan, E Kenneally, D Buckley.
C Hurley for E Kenneally (49), C O’Neill for J Meade (55), Ciarán O’Donovan for S O’Sullivan (63).
J Bowles (c); T McCarthy, P O’Sullivan, M Ryan; C Twomey, C O’Brien, K O’Sullivan; T O’Mahony, Rory Troy; Robert Troy, D O’Connor, J Coughlan; C Griffin, T O’Neill, R Geary.
B Collins for Rory Troy (8 inj), M Lenihan for R Geary (42), S Minihane for D O’Connor (55).
Colm Lyons (Nemo Rangers).
App?
