Polished Charleville in control throughout in Premier SHC opener against Newcestown

Charleville's Darragh Fitzgibbon wins possession under pressure from Newcestown's Gearoid O'Donovan. Picture: David Keane

Cork Premier SHC: Charleville 2-23 Newcestown 0-18 

This had the feel of a decisive two points banked by Charleville.

The opening weekend though it is, Group B has already taken shape and doesn’t look for bending.

Charleville were in control of this fixture from the seventh minute. They finished 11 in front. They move on to the North Cork derby with Newtownshandrum in a fortnight’s time full of confidence and assured in the knowledge that if they bank another two points there, they’ll reach a first quarter-final since 2023 with a round to spare.

For Newcestown, their championship appears over no sooner than it threw in. Their next assignment is Midleton. Failing a sizable shock there, they’ll require Newtown to better Charleville before they themselves must better Newtown on the final day. And even at that, their score difference, currently at -11, would likely come against them.

In sum, Newcestown are in trouble. Newcestown were in trouble turning around. They had the breeze behind them in the opening half. But the interval scoreline showed them 1-11 to 0-9 behind. They’d registered seven first half wides and had a pair of green flag opportunities, struck by Seamus O’Sullivan and Colm Dinneen, saved and repelled by Charleville goalkeeper Conor Reynolds.

Gearóid O’Donovan’s touch-tight marking job on Darragh Fitzgibbon had kept the Cork senior to one first-half point from play, even if the All-Star did win a free and smartly linked the play at other times. Newcestown’s difficulties were elsewhere. And they were many.

The movement of the Charleville players, especially from the half-forward line, consistently saw lines broken and overlaps created. Sean Bresnan, in particular, was so effective in this regard, as was Jack Callaghan surging from midfield.

Their opening goal seven minutes in stemmed from one such running play. Darragh Fitzgibbon played through Callaghan who played through Daniel O’Flynn. This sequence of passes was reversed for a Fitzgibbon white flag immediately after. A third consecutive Callaghan assist, this time for Sean Bresnan, surged Charleville 1-3 to 0-2 clear on 11 minutes.

Charleville's Daniel O'FLynn celebrates his goal. Picture: David Keane

Newcestown never came closer than a goal. Reynolds denied them the green flag comeback momentum they so desperately craved. Luke Meade was pushed from centre-back to midfield to increase his involvement and increase their middle third creativity.

Two Richard O’Sullivan frees once again brought Newcestown within three at the beginning of the second period. Darren Butler cleared a Luke Meade looping effort off the line. Newcestown just couldn’t find a straight road back into proper contention.

Darragh Fitzgibbon then began to roam and Charleville began to slowly edge into a space where their into-the-elements opponents could not reach them.

Fitzgibbon forcing a turnover led to their opening point of the second period. His second from play of the second period was a down the sideline strike that shoved the difference out to seven, 1-18 to 0-14, on 52 minutes.

Where Newcestown relied far too heavily on the placed-ball work of Richard O’Sullivan for scores, Charleville got 1-3 from their bench. Tim Hawe, set up by fellow sub Darren Casey, goaled on 59 minutes. Another replacement Conor Buckley raised three white flags upon his introduction, the last of which was a sublime piece of skill off the hurl.

Not even a Fitzgibbon penalty saved by Cathal Wilson at the death could take any of the shine off a terribly fluid and polished Charleville start.

Scorers for Charleville: D Fitzgibbon (0-11, 0-6 frees, 0-1’ 65); D O’Flynn (1-2); C Buckley (0-3); T Hawe (1-0); Z Biggane, S Bresnan (0-2 each); R Carroll (free), J Callaghan, G Kelleher (0-1 each).

Scorers for Newcestown: R O’Sullivan (0-10, 0-7 frees, 0-2 ‘65); S O’Sullivan, D Buckley (0-2 each); L Meade (free), E Kenneally, C Dinneen, C Hurley (0-1 each).

CHARLEVILLE: C Reynolds; D Butler, J Meade, A Dennehy; F Cagney, J Buckley, R Carroll; C O’Carroll, J Callaghan; Z Biggane, S Bresnan, D Fitzgibbon; D Forde, D O’Flynn, G Kelleher.

Subs: T Hawe for O’Flynn (43); C Buckley for Kelleher (46); A Cagney for Forde (50); D Casey for Bresnan (51); O O’Connell for O’Carroll (55).

NEWCESTOWN: C Wilson; M McSweeney, E Collins, J Kelleher; Colm O’Donovan, L Meade, G O’Donovan; C O’Sullivan, R O’Sullivan; S O’Sullivan, J Meade, C Dinneen; D Buckley, E Kenneally, S O’Donovan.

Subs: C O’Neill for McSweeney (38); C Hurley for S O’Sullivan (46, inj); Ciarán O’Donovan for S O’Donovan (54, inj).

Referee: W King.