Newcestown boss Jim O'Sullivan: I like our character but we won't get carried away

Newcestown manager Jim O’Sullivan was delighted to oversee his club’s first senior victory over Castlehaven on Sunday, but keen to keep everyone's feet on the ground ahead of a Cork Premier SFC quarter-final.

A 0-12 to 0-10 Group 1 win over their West Cork rivals at a windswept Rossmore achieved two things.

First, it wrote this Newcestown panel into the club’s history books as the first to defeat the Haven at senior level. Secondly, the two-point victory confirmed Newcestown’s place in the Premier SFC last eight against Carrigaline.

“When Castlehaven went two points up with 10 minutes to go, we came back, fought hard and brought it level,” O’Sullivan commented.

We kicked two points towards the end just to seal the victory. I like the character of this team but look, we won’t get carried away.

“This was the third game of the series. We have two weeks before playing a quarter-final but I’m delighted with the win.” 

O’Sullivan paid tribute to his players work rate in achieving a West Cork derby win amid a gale wind that never relented throughout the hour.

“If you don’t have work-rate, you have nothing,” the Newcestown manager added.

“It is a prerequisite for any sports team. It is also important to say that Castlehaven, this is not a death nail in their coffin. They are going to come back. They are still the favourites to win the county.

“So, look, no matter what team won. They were still going to get into a quarter-final because of Nemo’s comprehensive win (over St Michael’s). I’m just immensely proud of our lads. I just love their character and the work-rate as conditions were very tough.” 

NEXT STEP

So, the big question after such an impressive win is just how far can Newcestown go?

“That’s the million-dollar question,” O’Sullivan said. “I wouldn’t get carried away as I think Castlehaven were a small bit off it today. They missed a lot of scores in the first half.

If we get too carried away with what we’ve done, we’ll fall foul in the quarter-finals. So, we just have to keep the heads down.” 

Castlehaven spent a long time in a huddle on the Rossmore pitch in the immediate aftermath of as disappointing a performance as result. Manager Seanie Cahalane made no excuses.

“The better team won, 100%, we have no qualms about it as they were the better team on the day,” Cahalane admitted.

“Look, to be honest, we knew that we’d get that from Newcestown, especially in those conditions. They’re a great club that we have great admiration for. So, look, no qualms about it. They were the better team on the day.” 

As for assessing what exactly went wrong, a Castlehaven side in search of a third consecutive county final triumph was never allowed get into its usual rhythm by a dogged opponent.

There is much soul searching to do ahead of a quarter-final showdown with old rivals, St Finbarr’s.

“I suppose we are still trying to put our finger on it,” Cahalane concluded. “We will look back on the video and stuff as we had a lot of wides there in the first half too. Look, we have to refocus straight away for the next game. That’s what our focus will be right now.”