Premier SHC: Newtown will present a challenge as Sarsfields look to bounce back

Not since defeat to St Finbarr’s eliminated them at the group stage of the 2022 Co-op SuperStores Cork Premier SHC had Sarsfields trooped off a championship pitch beaten by another club.

While the time since did feature the 2024 county final loss to Imokilly, otherwise Sars had been regal, winning the other two deciders and only dropping group-stage points in a draw against Kanturk.

However, three weeks ago in the Group 2 opener in Castletownroche, the Riverstown side lost to a Charleville team that learned the lessons of last year’s quarter-final defeat and put them into action, with Cork captain Darragh Fitzgibbon scoring 11 points in a 0-21 to 0-19 victory for Dominic Foley’s side.

It says much about the capabilities of Sars that they are still ranked as the outright favourites for the Seán Óg Murphy Cup, but the margin for error has been severely reduced as clubs face into what is likely to be a pivotal weekend in the championship.

Both Group 2 games form a double-header in Mallow on Saturday afternoon, with Sars up first against Newtownshandrum at 3pm. Johnny Crowley’s side are likely to have Cathal McCarthy, James Sweeney and Kerry inter-county star Evan Murphy available following various injuries and they should give them an impetus.

However, their opponents come in with some momentum behind them, having battled back impressively in their first game to earn a draw against Douglas. Jamie Coughlan scored 1-12 for them while the late relocation of Tim O’Mahony to the half-forward line paid dividends. Beyond the county star, Newtown also benefit from Conor Twomey and Cormac O’Brien giving them a strong central presence.

That match is followed by the meeting of Charleville and Douglas where, depending on the earlier result, the north Cork side may have the opportunity to guarantee a place in the knockout stage with a game to spare.

Beyond Fitzgibbon, Jack Meade and David Forde were outstanding for Charleville in the win over Sars but they will be aware of the potential for menace in a Douglas attack featuring Shane Kingston, Alan Cadogan, Mark O’Brien and the returning Brian Turnbull.

Saturday also features a Páirc Uí Rinn double-header, with both Group 3 games taking place there. At 3pm, Midleton will look to follow up their win over St Finbarr’s as they take on a Newcestown side that fell to newly promoted Bride Rovers in their first outing.

A year ago, Newcestown produced a battling display to earn a draw when the sides met – back then, they were coming off a defeat to Charleville – and they will need to be close to their best if something similar is to be effected against the Magpies. Richard O’Sullivan was the top scorer against Bride Rovers but the total of 0-14 will have to be exceeded, most likely with a goal or two.

While they were below-par in the league final loss to Sars, Pádraig O’Shea’s side were much better as they saw off St Finbarr’s first time out. Tommy O’Connell slotted back in impressively at centre-back while Killian McDermott at midfield contributed six points from play and Conor Lehane showed his class in the closing stages as they prevailed.

The eight-point defeat leaves the Barrs requiring a strong response when they face the Rovers at 5pm. Jack Cahalane missed the Midleton game and didn’t line out for Castlehaven last week either – his continued absence would be a blow in terms of scoring power, though of course Brian Hayes and William Buckley do have the potential to cut loose. That’s easier said and done against a Bride Rovers side where Eoin Roche and Cillian Tobin are so effective in defence, with Brian Roche a constant presence further up the field.

Both of the Group 1 encounters take place on Sunday afternoon at 4pm. In Midleton, Blackrock will be strong favourites against Fr O’Neills after their brilliant second-half performance to beat the Glen, despite playing more than half the game with 14 players.

Alan Connolly and Robbie Cotter came to the fore when they needed big plays in the second half and stopping them will be the main mission for an O’Neills side that lost to Kanturk by 13 points. Declan Dalton scored 1-5 with John Millerick getting 1-4 as the east Cork side did socre 2-15, but improving on the 3-25 conceded will be imperative.

In Castletownroche, Kanturk will look to match their 2023 win over the Glen, which relegated the city side. Micheál Mullins impressed in the Blackrock loss and they have plenty of potential but the pressure is on against a Kanturk side that have been going well in football and hurling, with Brian O’Sullivan’s dynamism setting the tone against O’Neills.