Premier SHC: Newtownshandrum dig deep to snatch draw against Douglas

Newtownshandrum: 2-16 

Douglas: 0-22 

In a game that ebbed and flowed, it was no surprise that Newtownshandrum and Douglas shared the spoils in an entertaining Co-Op SuperStores Premier SHC clash at Ballyhooly on Friday evening.

Considering both teams struggled last year — with the North Cork side ending up in the relegation play-off — and given the difficulty of Group 2 this year, where holders Sarsfields and Charleville also reside, the room for error was slim.

Newtownshandrum will be glad of the point. They trailed by seven midway through the second half, with Shane Kingston driving Douglas on, and it looked as if the city side would pick up a priceless victory.

But Newtownshandrum, aided by impact from the bench and by pushing Cork hurler Tim O’Mahony further forward, clawed their way back into the contest.

They still needed the outstanding Jamie Coughlan to land a late free to ensure they took something from the game.

Both sides will have mixed emotions, but it is at least a positive result for each.

In tricky, swirling wind conditions, Newtownshandrum started brightly.

They goaled after two minutes through Coughlan, after Ronan Geary set him up.

Coughlan then converted a free before Alan Cadogan finally got Douglas going with a tidy point after a jittery opening.

The sides swapped points in what was an error-strewn start, 1-2 to 0-2 after nine minutes.

A Shane Kingston 65, and efforts from Cillian O’Donovan and Jack O’Brien, drew Douglas level before a majestic Brian Turnbull white flag gave them the lead.

Cormac O’Brien did have a goal chance during that spell, but the Newtownshandrum man couldn’t beat goalkeeper Donal Maher.

The next four points were evenly shared as Douglas led 0-8 to 1-4.

Eoin O’Mahony hit the last score — Newtownshandrum’s second scorer so far.

It sparked the Avondhu side. They landed four of the next five points, with Turlough O’Neill’s effort the pick of them.

Newtownshandrum looked to be in a strong position, leading 1-8 to 0-9, but Douglas finished the half strongly with the last three points.

A pair of Kingston frees and a Mark O’Brien effort made it 0-12 to 1-8 at the break.

A Joe Harte point gave Douglas a two-point lead on the resumption, but another Coughlan free left the bare minimum in it.

A pair of Shane Kingston points — one a 65 and another a free — and a tidy effort gave Douglas a 0-16 to 1-9 advantage after 36 minutes.

Coughlan thought he had bagged his second goal, but Douglas goalkeeper Maher made a fantastic stop.

It went out for a 65, which Coughlan converted.

Douglas, though, had more about them at this stage. Four unanswered points gave them a 0-20 to 1-10 advantage after 45 minutes.

A Coughlan white flag and an O’Neill effort kept Newtownshandrum in touch.

Coughlan added another point before Geary billowed the net after a driving run, leaving them just a point behind with nine minutes remaining, 0-20 to 2-13.

A pair of Coughlan frees handed Newtownshandrum a remarkable lead.

A Shane Kingston free was much needed for Douglas to break the momentum.

The game was deadlocked heading into added time.

A Ronan Dooley point looked to have given Douglas a priceless victory, but there was still more drama.

The aforementioned Coughlan clipped over a pressure free in the dying embers, and despite both teams’ efforts to find a winner, there would be no more scores.

A point apiece — and probably a draw was fair enough.

Scorers for Newtownshandrum: J Coughlan 1-12 (0-8 f, 0-1 65), R Geary 1-0, T O’Neill 0-2, C O’Brien, E O’Mahony 0-1 apiece.

Douglas: S Kingston 0-11 (0-6 f, 0-2 65), R Dooley, B Turnbull, C O’Donovan 0-2 each, A O’Connell, J O’Brien, A Cadogan, M O’Brien, J Harte 0-1 each.

NEWTOWNSHANDRUM: J Bowles; Rory Troy, C Twomey (c), J Hogan; B Collins, T O’Mahony, K O’Sullivan; Robert Troy, C O’Brien; E O’Mahony, C Griffin, T O’Neill; M Linehan, J Coughlan, R Geary.

Subs: D O’Connor for E O’Mahony (38), S Minihane for C Griffin (41), P Noonan for Robert Troy (50).

DOUGLAS: D Maher; D Murphy, B O’Neill, L Kelleher; D Harte, M Howell, C O’Donovan; A O’Connell, J O’Brien; A Cadogan, S Kingston (c), M O’Brien; B Turnbull, J Harte, R Dooley.

Subs: K McSweeney for D Harte (20-22 temp), K McSweeney for D Murphy (52, inj), C Kingston for B O’Neill (57), S O’Leary for A Cadogan (59), C Baldwin for C O’Donovan (59-61, temp).

Referee: Shane Scanlon (Newcestown).