Newcestown left with regrets after coming close to reaching Premier Senior quarter-finals
Seán O'Donovan, Newcestown, winning this ball from Newtownshandrum players Cormac O'Brien, Tom McCarthy and Mattie Ryan. Picture: Dan Linehan
Newcestown hurling is in a strong place.
Even though the West Cork dual club missed out on a knockout place in the Cork Premier senior hurling championship, they can look on the bright side.
They got off to a rocky start in their first group game against Charleville but they recovered to draw with Midleton. And they signed off against Newtownshandrum on Sunday shooting 3-21, in what was arguably their best performance of the season.
They failed to find the net in their first two championship outings, only to finish raising three green flags. Goals win games. So, a good deal of upside to their performance.
“I hate going backwards because I don’t want to live there, but after the Charleville game (11-point loss) we have to say massive thanks to the lads in terms of their maturity and how they responded,” manager Niall O’Sullivan said after their 3-21 to 1-20 victory over Newtownshandrum.
“They showed their true ability and their true Newcestown spirit. Goals we hadn’t been scoring, we’ve three of them today, so there is plenty to take out of it. Plenty of positives for the lads to take into 2026.
“We got a draw against Midleton and we delivered here today, and we needed it because this was really a relegation battle.
“I’m immensely proud, but at the same token a little bit disappointed for them because we just had a tough start to the group and we put ourselves under pressure.
That said, a club who achieved double championship glory two years ago, certainly saved the best until last.
As a group, they held Newtownshandrum in the highest regard.
“We can’t always be brilliant. But when the lads perform, we know what they can do. But at the same token, Newtownshandrum, what a club. Twenty-nine years in the senior grade, county championships, All-Irelands.
“We knew full well what was coming down the line. Had we not had the amount of respect for Newtownshandrum and knowing what they were going to bring, would we have brought what we brought today?
“They are a special hurling club up there in North Cork and we have the utmost respect for them. The same rural club, similar to ourselves. Look what they’ve done. Look at their history. So we were immensely respectful of them and we had to be on our game to get a win.”
O’Sullivan has regrets over the Charleville defeat, more so, the nature of the defeat. They will learn and move forward.
“It goes back to the Charleville game, we went into that knowing full well they are a fine side. When we shipped an 11-point loss, it was very frustrating because it was a three-point game - it will stay with me for a long time - with 10 or 15 minutes to go.
“And when you go -11, it is a big thing to turn over. But at the same token, we went into this game today thinking Charleville could beat Midleton. Thinking we get a win, and you never know how the points go.
“On the day, Midleton did their business. And best of luck to Midleton and to Charleville from our group.”
App?
