Character key as Newcestown battle back despite absentees

Had things turned out slightly differently last autumn, Saturday’s McCarthy Insurance Group FL Division 1 clash between Newcestown and St Finbarr’s would have been a repeat of the county final.

While Newcestown were unable to hang on in October’s semi-final against Nemo Rangers, the season was a huge success and they ensured that their start to 2026 has yet to include a defeat as they battled back from what was an eight-point deficit at one stage in the second half to earn a draw.

The game at Páirc Naomh Eoin finished 1-9 apiece as Richard O’Sullivan’s sixth points of the game for Newcestown capped an unanswered run of five points in the final quarter as they made use of the strong elements.

O’Sullivan’s father, the Newcestown manager Jim, was not enamoured with every aspect of his team’s play but he was satisfied to share the points with the Togher outfit.

“I suppose it wasn’t a game for the ages!” he laughed.

“I thought we kind of we managed the game well at the start of the second half but in the second ten minutes, we lost our way. We came back into the game towards the end.

“The conditions were brutal for both teams, I know both sides were short a couple as well, so in that kind of situation you’re just happy to get away with a draw and I’m sure the Barrs were the same.”

When Cillian Myers Murray struck for a lovely Barrs goal coming up to half-time, the visitors were 1-7 to 0-2 in front but Humphrey Canty was able to respond for Newcestown to leave them five behind at the break.

That was lead was reduced before the Barrs pushed five ahead again but the hosts were able to regroup and come again down the closing stretch.

“I thought we didn't manage it well in that the last 10 minutes,” O’Sullivan said.

“I felt we just panicked a small bit and we were trying to force it, but, as I said, the conditions were brutal – it was very hard to hold on to the ball and the balls were spilling.

“We were looking for a kind of a perfect game, but you weren't going to get it today.

“We did get a couple of good scores towards the end of the game, so you're happy enough with the result.”

What made it more impressive was the fact that the list of absentees included Cork panellist David Buckley, former Cork hurler Luke Meade and corner-back Paul Kelly – all were on last year’s Reardens Football All-Star team – as well as goalkeeper Christopher White, Gearóid O’Donovan, Seán O’Donovan, Tadgh Twomey and Cian Twomey.

In a battle, those who were available stood up when needed.

“We said at the start of the year that our mission was to find players and to build a panel,” O’Sullivan said,

“Today was a day where it was probably less about football than it was about character and we showed a lot of character, so it was great.”