Erin's Own go down after Newtownshandrum make most of Premier Senior relegation replay
Newtownshandrum's Robert Troy clears from Erin's Own's Peter O'Shea during the Co-Op Superstores Premier SHC relegation play-off replay at Ballyhooley. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
Newtownshandrum extended their top-tier status into a 30th season, while ending Erin’s Own Premier Senior stay with a four-point triumph in this replayed relegation play-off at Ballyhooly.
Robbie O’Flynn scored 1-10 (0-5 from play) for the Glounthaune side, but it wasn’t enough against a better spread of contributions from Cormac O’Brien (1-3), Conor Griffin, and Jamie Coughlan (0-4 each).
After O’Brien netted in the 39th minute, Newtown built a 10-point cushion. Erin’s Own battled on but couldn’t get within one score.
Both teams recognised the areas to improve from their thrilling draw five days previous. Newtown needed to insulate their inside line against a goal-hungry attack. Erin’s Own had to deliver a 60-minute performance to remedy their recent fade-outs.
Each made two changes. Stephen Minihane and Eoin O’Mahony started for Newtown, while Erin’s Own called upon James O’Carroll and Cathal Lenihan.
Newtown raced out of the blocks with a point from equalising hero Turlough O’Neill from the throw-in. They robbed the puck-out for Griffin to tap over. Only 40 seconds were on the clock.
Erin’s Own proved over-reliant on O’Flynn for scores. He notched 0-7 and assisted their other pair in the first half. His first trio all came from play to level the scores for the final time at 0-3 apiece.
Newtown reeled off the next four in a row, including three from defenders Tim O’Mahony (0-2) and Mattie Ryan, who soon departed through injury.
Griffin was leading the line, bringing his total to 0-4 in 19 minutes. Robert Troy, Coughlan, and a stylish effort from centre-forward O’Brien pushed them six ahead; 0-11 to 0-5.
An O’Flynn brace, which included a fine over-the-shoulder score, was cancelled out by O’Brien and Eoin O’Mahony.
Ronan Geary and O’Brien had goal openings snuffed out for an even bigger lead. Cathal Lenihan drilled over to cut the gap to five, 0-14 to 0-9, at half-time.
O'Flynn almost found a goal upon the restart, but Newtown captain James Bowles advanced to make a brave save.
O'Flynn slotted the 65 and gained another major chance moments later as Finn O'Brien was hauled down approaching the 21. As he did last Sunday, O'Flynn went for goal. This time, his bouncing attempt was blocked on the line.
After all that, it was Newtown who netted first. Having turned over possession, O'Brien was straight through on goal and finished clinically for a 1-14 to 0-10 advantage.
Newtown drove that home with four of the next five points. O'Brien arrowed over in the next play. Coughlan was moved out to centre-forward, adding a fine solo effort to a free. Substitute Michael Lenihan tacked on another.
In between, Ronan Geary went for goal, but was denied by Tom Dillon. Minihane was next to break through, only to angle his shot just wide.
O'Flynn got Erin's Own motoring again with two frees. The second was a close-range rasper drilled over the line to make it 1-18 against 1-12.
Ronan Twomey and O’Flynn brought them even closer, but Twomey’s next individual effort for a point hit the post.
Jerry Lane was brought on for the final minute and managed to raise a white flag. Oran O’Regan’s response proved a mere consolation.
C O’Brien 1-3, C Griffin, J Coughlan (0-2 f) 0-4 each, T O’Mahony 0-2 (0-1 f), M Ryan, R Troy, T O’Neill, E O’Mahony, M Lenihan, J Lane 0-1 each.
R O’Flynn 1-10 (1-4 f, 0-1 65), Conor Lenihan 0-2, O O’Regan, Cathal Lenihan, R Twomey 0-1 each.
J Bowles (c); T McCarthy, C Twomey, M Ryan; B Collins, T O’Mahony, K O’Sullivan; Robert Troy, S Minihane; E O’Mahony, C O’Brien, T O’Neill; C Griffin, J Coughlan, R Geary.
P O’Sullivan for Ryan (25, inj), M Lenihan for O’Neill (40), J Geary for Minihane (58), J Lane for E O’Mahony (60+3).
T Dillon; C O’Connor, C Dooley, C Dunphy; C McDonnell, S Broderick, J O’Carroll; B Óg Murphy, O O’Regan; M O’Carroll, P O’Shea, Cathal Lenihan; F O’Brien, R O’Flynn (jc), Conor Lenihan.
M O'Riordan for M O'Carroll (h-t), R Twomey for Murphy (37), E Murphy for O’Shea (40), C O’Callaghan for Cathal Lenihan (43).
M Maher (St Finbarr's).
App?
