IT was tougher, tighter and didn't have the pretty hurling of the drawn game, but at Semple Stadium on Saturday, Newtownshandrum finally ended the dogged challenge of O'Loughlin Gaels of Kilkenny in the All-Ireland club hurling championship semi-final.

THE BONFIRES were blazing again in Newtown on Sunday night, the bunting-bedecked village rocking into the small hours as all 800 souls in the parish appeared to congregate around Paddy Ryan’s pub to celebrate winning the Munster hurling club title.