Newtown fire title warning with easy win

PLAYING their usual stylish brand of hurling Newtownshandrum, without ever getting out of second gear, proved far too good for a game Bride Rovers in the first of the Evening Echo County SHC semi-finals at Páirc Uí Chaoimh yesterday.

There was never a hint of an upset in this disappointing tie after Newtown drew level in the second minute when Ben O’Connor cut a line ball over the bar, and on the evidence of this performance it’s going to take a very good team to deny the North Cork side a fourth title in seven years.

While Ben and Jerry O’Connor (up to the time of his retirement with a hamstring injury) were hugely influential for the winners, it was younger brother John who stole the biggest plaudits on this occasion.