U21 Hurling: Shandrum keen to finish year on a high against Midleton

While 2025 was a year to forget at adult level for Newtownshandrum and Dromina, they will look to finish on a high in Sunday’s U21AHC final.

Shandrum take on Midleton at the SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh 4G (2pm), aiming to maintain a proud heritage in the grade that dates back five decades.

Though Newtownshandrum’s emergence as a force at senior level came in the early 2000s, the North Cork club won the U21 when it was first run in 1973, and four more followed, with the most recent in 2010. Now, they are seeking a first under the Shandrum banner, adopted when the Dromina link came into being.

This year, Newtown survived at Premier Ssenior level after beating Erin’s Own in a replay while Dromina were beaten by Kilshannig – who went on to divisional and county glory – in the North Cork JAHC semi-final.

TOUGH

With a number of players from those campaigns involved, Shandrum selector James Bowles feels that they have channelled the experience positively.

“It was a tough couple of weeks dealing with the relegation final,” he says, “it wasn't nice and it wasn't easy.

“In fairness to the senior boys, they have driven training. We have a few that played in the county junior B final against Dungourney too.

For both clubs, it's been a disappointing year, so hopefully they can finish the year on a high.”

Bowles kept goal for the Newtown senior side and he and team-mate Jamie Coughlan - who will miss the final due to his honeymoon - have been with the U21 side for a half-decade.

“Myself and Jamie have been there for a few years and Tim O’Mahony was involved too but he stepped aside this year due to Cork commitments," he says.

“It’s easier for us because you know that the U21 won’t start until the senior is over – you can concentrate on your own hurling for the summer months and then when that's finished you can concentrate on the U21.

“Willie O’Mahony is the manager, Michael Thompson came in this year with us and we have Ger Hayes from Dromina as well.”

Having had a county quarter-final bye after winning the north Cork title, Newtown came in against a Valley Rovers side that had beaten Glen Rovers. A four-man full-forward line served as a nice curveball.

“We saw them against the Glen and they had a very good first 20 minutes, so we knew we had to start well,” Bowles says.

“We did that and we were up three points at half-time, against the breeze. They took over for the next 10 or 15 minutes and it was blow-for-blow then but it was nice to get over the line with a two-point win.

“After seeing Midleton win by 24 points two hours previously, we know we’ve a big challenge ahead of us on Sunday but we have great faith and belief in this squad.

It’s up to us as a management at the end of the day to have these boys 100% on Sunday and we feel that there’s a big performance in them.

“We play with a lot of them, so you’d know them all. They trust us, we trust them, we have a good relationship with our players.

“They have a great attitude and they’re willing to take things on board. The U21 is a stepping stone, so you’re trying to improve these boys for the next couple of years.”