Real challenge is defending titles, says McCarthy

FOLLOWING his outstanding display in the second-half of Wednesday’s All-Ireland club hurling final, successful Newtownshandrum captain John McCarthy is anticipating the Cork call in the coming weeks.

Fri, 19 Mar, 2004 - 00:00

Diarmuid O’Flynn

"Indeed I am," the 32-year-old agreed yesterday, deadpan, "in the Masters!"

John McCarthy has always been a club hurler and a successful one culminating two days ago in his greatest honour, captaining his club to All-Ireland glory. Already this year he has led Newtown to county and Munster success; in 1996 he was captain when they made the intermediate breakthrough.