Teams rise to GOAL challenge

Newtownshandrum 16-3 Cork 14-3

An avalanche of goals from Brian Corcoran, Gerry O'Connor, Joe Deane, Kieran Murphy, Cian O'Connor and Ben O'Connor powered Cork into an interval lead of 9-3 to 5-3 and with Cashmans offering €100 a goal, the Cork bookmakers donated €3,000 at the end of a fun game.

Cork paraded 13 of their All-Ireland winning side with John Browne and Cian O'Connor filling in for Wayne Sherlock and Sean Óg O hAilpin. Cork moved Brian Corcoran and Joe Deane back into defence in the second half with John Gardiner taking over the goalkeeping duties.

Newtown's attacking sextet all scored with James Bowles, Mike Morrissey, John Paul King, Cathal Naughton, Dan O'Riordan and Maurice Farrell regularly finding the net, while John O'Connor, another member of the famous clan, excelled in midfield.

They were level with five minutes remaining but two late strikes from Morrissey and Naughton sealed it for Newtown.

Scorers: Newtownshandrum: J. O'Connor (3-1), J. Bowles (3-0), D. O'Riordan (3-0), J.P. King (3-0), J. Naughton (2-0), M. Morrissey (2-0), A.P. O'Brien (0-2). Cork: B. Corcoran (2-1), J. O'Connor (2-0), J. Deane (2-0), C. O'Connor (2-0), B. O'Connor (2-0), K. Murphy (1-1), G. Callinan, T. McCarthy, J. Wallace (1-0 each), N. McCarthy (0-1).

NEWTOWNSHANDRUM: P. Morrissey, A.J. O'Brien, B. Mulcahy, G.D. O'Mahony, E. Kelleher, P. Mulcahy, D. Mulcahy, A.T. O'Brien, J. O'Connor, J. Bowles, M. Morrissey, J. P. King, C. Naughton, D. O'Riordan, M. Farrell.

CORK: D. Og Cusack, B. Murphy, D. O'Sullivan, B. Murphy, J. Gardiner, R. Curran, C. O'Connor, T. Kenny, J. O'Connor, B. O'Connor, N. McCarthy, T. McCarthy, K. Murphy, B. Corcoran, J. Deane.

Referee: D. Kirwan.

Defending champions, Kilkenny, have made two changes to their team for Saturday's U-21 All-Ireland Hurling final against Tipperary at Nowlan Park.

Sean O'Neill and Eoin Reid have been drafted into the wing forward positions and they replace Brian Dowling and John Phelan in a reshaped attack. O'Neill and Reid came in as subs in the semi final victory over Galway and obviously they made an impression with the selectors.

"We are as ready as we can be," insisted Kilkenny manager, Martin Fogarty. "There was a bit of a hangover in the county after the senior defeat last Sunday, but this team is firmly focused." Senior stars Tommy Walsh, James (Cha) Fitzpatrick and Conor Phelan all reported fit and well for training on Tuesday, and all have been included in the team.

Team: D. Herity, S. Maher, J. Tennyson, M. Fennelly, T. Walsh, P.J. Delaney, C. Hoyne, S. Hennessy, P. Cleere, S. O'Neill, W. O'Dwyer, E. Reid, C. Fitzpatrick, C. Phelan, R. Power.