A REAL test of resolve yesterday for the 3,000 dedicated fans who made the journey to Thurles for this Munster final, defying the sleet and biting wind to support their teams.

UNLESS you’re in a situation where the protagonists are regular winners of their own county titles, and thus meet thereafter on a fairly regular basis, trying to predict what’s going to happen in a provincial club final is pretty much an impossible business.

CHRIS MORRISSEY was there back in the days when Newtownshandrum were fighting for respectability at junior level in North Cork.

NEWTOWNSHANDRUM was a village en fete yesterday, as for the fourth time this decade, the Seán Óg Murphy cup named in honour of the Cork hurling legend and awarded to the winners of the Cork SHC, was once again on view.

THEY’RE back.

THERE are four O'Connor brothers, not two, in the Newtownshandrum squad that faces Portumna in what promises to be a titanic All-Ireland club senior hurling final this Friday.

IN INDIVIDUAL conversation with a number of Cork players, one discordant note rang out consistently - a muted complaint that even as Kilkenny were garnering honours, Cork were not getting due recognition for their achievements over the past number of years.

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.

Newtownshandrum 0-15 Toomevara 1-9