Sport

Gulf in standards remains a problem

Newtownshandrum 1-14 Fr Murphy's 1-5: After holding their own in the first half, and only a point in arrears at the interval…

Mon Dec 08 2003 - 00:00

Newtownshandrum 1-14 Fr Murphy's 1-5: After holding their own in the first half, and only a point in arrears at the interval, London titleholders Fr Murphy's were unable to display the same level of commitment in the second period and finished well beaten in Saturday's hurling club championship quarter-final in Ruislip.

They scored but a single point against nine for the visitors in the second period.

Newtownshandrum now go through to play Kilkenny champions O'Loughlin Gaels in the semi-final on February 28th, and on this showing must stand an excellent chance of qualifying for their first final.

Well on top in the opening stages, Fr Murphy's were repeatedly denied by goalkeeper Paul Morrissey, who had an excellent game.

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The home team, aided by splendid play by midfielders James Carmody and John P Byrne, jumped into a three-point lead, but the advantage was short-lived with a succession of scores from Ian Kelleher, Philip Noonan and Ben O'Connor giving the winners a point advantage at the break.

It was all Newtownshandrum in the second period, and once Ben O'Connor slotted over the third of his nine points from frees, two minutes after the restart, there was no looking back. And with Alan O'Brien and Jerry O'Connor taking over at centrefield, the attack was in full flight for most of the final stages.

The inside trio of James Bowles, Dan O'Riordan and Maurice Farrell created all kinds of problems for the opposition. And when the losers launched an occasional attack, they were met by a defence in which Brendan Mulcahy, Noonan and Gerard O'Mahony excelled.

The result proved the disparity between London clubs and teams from Ireland remains considerable, and while Fr Murphy's had outstanding performers in defenders Michael Gordon, Tom Lawlor and Pat Lynch, coupled with the attacking endeavours of Devlin and Simon Byrne, the gulf between the sides was most noticeable.

NEWTOWNSHANDRUM: P Morrissey; Alan G O'Brien, B Mulcahy, G O'Mahony; I Kelleher (0-1), P Mulcahy, P Noonan (0-2); Alan O'Brien, G O'Connor (0-1); J P King, B O'Connor (0-9), J O'Connor; J Bowles (1-0), D O'Riordan, M Farrell (0-1). Subs: D Mulcahy for Alan O'Brien, M Morrissey for D O'Riordan, D Naughton for M Farrell.

FR MURPHY'S: E Roche; T Sims, T Lawlor, B McCarthy; P Lynch, M Gordon, N Martin; J Carmody, J P Byrne (0-1); S Byrne (0-2), J Howlin, E Kinlon (0-2); R Devlin (1-0), D Howlin, P Culhane. Sub: E Whelan for Paddy Culhane.

Referee: T McIntyre (Antrim).