Shining Light

All-Ireland club final day has to be about the small club, the unheard of player. But if things go according to plan for Newtownshandrum,John McCarthy is guaranteed his 15 minutes of fame — and then some. Diarmuid O’Flynn explains.

THESE are special days for Newtownshandrum captain John McCarthy. "All this glory, my 15 minutes of fame," he says, with a wry laugh, "I should probably have a go at You're A Star now while the going is good."

For those who don't know, the 15 minutes of fame is wrapped up in the fact that today, John McCarthy will lead his team, Newtownshandrum, onto the sacred sward of Croke Park, in the All-Ireland club hurling final, against Antrim and Ulster champions Dunloy.