Newcestown make hard work of victory

Newcestown 1-13 Tracton 0-12 (Cork PIHC quarter-final): A repeat result of their first-round meeting returned the Newcestown hurlers to the premier intermediate semi-final juncture, but no statement of intent did they issue yesterday afternoon.

Last year’s defeated finalists, though rarely troubled by Tracton, stuttered all afternoon and will have been scratching their heads as to how their opponents were within one score of them heading into second-half stoppage time.

Ahead by 0-9 to 0-5 at the break, Carthach Keane (0-3) and Eoin Kelly (0-2) inflicting most of the damage, Newcestown extended their advantage on 36 minutes when full-forward Kelly capitalised on poor defending to strike the opening goal of the contest.