O’Connor twins back in action for Newtown

The return of the O’Connor brothers Ben and Jerry to competitive action for their club Newtownshandrum was welcomed today by Cork selector Martin Bowen.

The twins lined out for Newtown against Bride Rovers last night in the Cork Co SHL semi-final, Jerry at centre-forward and Ben at full-forward. It was their first game since Newtown’s loss to Cloyne in last year’s championship semi-final.

Both had injury problems, Ben undergoing an operation but this latest news will boost the new Cork management.

“The two lads had been training away with us but they are still a good bit off inter-county fitness. They are coming along nicely and it’s good for them to get a game under their belt,” Bowen told the Evening Echo newspaper.

It is unlikely that either will figure for Cork for a while yet but that they are on the road to full fitness is a plus for Gerald McCarthy.

Bride Rovers won 1-9 to 0-10 and are back in the final for the second year running. They lost the 2005 final to Glen Rovers and now await Blackrock or Sars or Erin’s Own in the final.

Meanwhile, the Cork hurling team selected for last Sunday’s postponed league tie with Waterford has been retained en bloc for Saturday’s trip to Walsh Park.

Article courtesy of The Evening Echo newspaper.