Munster Club HC final: Newtownshandrum - 2-18 Patrickswell - 2-9 Most of the time hurling during the winter is not at its most beautiful. Skill is blinded by the low sun and the ground drags and the result is really all that matters. So if you produce 2-18 and include some wonderful scores you deserve to win something big.
For Newtownshandrum yesterday's victory in Thurles was very big. By far the biggest day in the long history of the north Cork club. Their first Munster hurling title, and the first to go to Cork in 16 years. This from the small parish of about 200 houses, about 800 people, and close to the Limerick border. Hardly the traditional heart of Cork hurling.
In front of a modest but enthusiastic crowd of 5,427 they outscored the Limerick champions 1-9 to 0-4 in the second half, and with that left no doubt about who are the best club in Munster this year. Their tempo and power was mostly unmatchable and from half-time onwards there was really only one team in it. Patrickswell were disappointing, outplayed in the second half with many of their players looking their age. For the most part, men like Gary Kirby and Ciarán Carey just weren't up to the pace.
And such a contrast with Newtown, whose endless vigour was spread throughout the team, and simply grew as the game progressed. The O'Connor brothers made their expected scoring contribution - Jerry was particularly lively in the second half - and in Pat Mulcahy at centre back they had by far the best defender on the field.
They had a surprise too in the contribution of James Bowles, just out of the minor ranks but good enough on the day to score 2-4 - all crucial scores in terms of timing - and also earn the AIB man of the match award. Afterwards the Newtown manager Patsy Morrissey was quick to commend his unexpected role in the victory.
"James had been threatening a big performance like that all year," said Morrissey. "But for him to get man of the match in a Munster final is really scaling the heights."
The only spell in which Newtown appeared under any pressure was the opening 10 minutes. Patrickswell stole the first advantage with two early goals, both coming from the stick of Declan O'Grady, and laid on from some way out by Paul O'Grady. So after 10 minutes they were up 2-1 to 0-3 and enjoying something of a whirlwind start.
But it was short-lived. Bowles was quickly into top gear and with John P King for company got the Newtown scoring into full flow. After 20 minutes they'd levelled the scores with a marvellous goal from Bowles, set up from Maurice Farrell in the corner and laid off by Ben O'Connor.
Minutes later they were ahead, and closed out the half 1-9 to 2-5 in front. Gerard O'Mahony had moved on to Declan O'Grady and with that the Patrickswell scoring threat was all smoke and no fire. When they came out for the second half the result was soon pointing in only one direction.
Morrissey admitted afterwards his team had been overly nervous in the first half: "Well it was a big occasion for us, our first Munster final. We did leak two goals at the back that we shouldn't have given away. But these things can happen. But I think the second-half performance was one you'd wish for. And what you train for. And I think our style of play is very difficult to defend against when we get it right. We don't always get it right but when we do it's going to be hard to beat."
By the seventh minute of the second half the last of the O'Connor brothers, Jerry, sent over his first score. The combined O'Connor total of 0-7 was a little down on recent averages but their presence throughout the field was as great as ever. King ended up with 0-4 to be the next-best scorer after Bowles and Mike Morrissey made his expected appearance to add another score.
Entering the last 10 minutes Newtown were in complete control, up 1-17 to 2-8, and the second goal from Bowles, well finished from an Alan O'Brien pass, sealed Patrickswell's fate. With just seven minutes left to play they trailed by nine points, and looked exhausted and demoralised.
"I suppose Patrickswell do have a lot of mileage up by now," added Morrissey. "And when the pressure came on they were outpaced a little bit. But they've been legends of Limerick hurling and we had to respect them.
"But we said after winning the county final that we'd try to put Cork hurling back on the map. And we've worked hard to do it. It mightn't be appreciated in all quarters of Cork but you have to go with the balance, and I hope all GAA supporters in Cork are proud of our achievement."
Newtown take on the London champions next Saturday, and then meet the new Leinster champions, O'Loughlin Gaels, next February. And with this sort of momentum behind them they'll be hard to stop.
NEWTOWNSHANDRUM: P Morrissey; Alan G O'Brien, B Mulcahy, G O'Mahoney; I Kelleher, P Mulcahy, P Noonan; Alan O'Brien (0-1), J O'Conner (0-3); J P King (0-4), B O'Connor (0-3, two frees), J O'Connor (0-1); J Bowles (2-4), D O'Riordan, M Farrell. Subs: D Mulcahy (0-1) for Farrell (30 mins); M Morrissey (0-1) for O'Riordan (33 mins); D Naughton for Alan O'Brien (38 mins), J McCarthy for Alan G O'Brien (60 mins).
PATRICKSWELL: E Murphy; M Foley, A Foley, P Earls; T O'Brien, C Carey, Paul O'Reilly; Peter O'Reilly, P O'Grady (0-3, all frees); E Foley (0-3), A Carmody, P Carey; D O'Grady (2-1), G Kirby (0-1), K Carey. Subs: J McDermott (0-1) for Carmody (34 mins), B Geoghegan for K Carey (47 mins), B Foley for C Carey (53 mins).
Referee: S McMahon (Clare).
