Watch and read: Newtown celebrate derby win but Charleville still progress to quarters

Charleville will face Glen Rovers in the Cork Premier SHC quarter-finals

Cork Premier SHC Group 2: Newtownshandrum 1-21 Charleville 1-17 

Their Cork Premier SHC campaign may have ended but the joyous celebrations that greeted the final whistle in Milford on Sunday afternoon were significant following Newtownshandrum’s derby victory over Charleville. Claiming the bragging rights as well, they finished Group 2 in third place, behind first-placed Charleville and reigning champions Sarsfields in second.

This was a Charleville team that were already through to the knockouts before any sliotar was struck, so they had one eye on securing thesole direct semi-final spot. They now go through to the quarter-final, and a meeting with Glen Rovers.

They were dealt a blow beforehand with the news that Darragh Fitzgibbon was ruled out due to a quad injury, and there was further disruption when his replacement Gareth Gleeson got injured in the warm-up and he in turn was replaced by Gavin Kelleher.

The match was delicately poised throughout, with free-takers Jamie Coughlan and David Forde kept busy.

With the scores tied 0-19 to 1-16 and five minutes left on the clock, it could have gone either way.

But down the home stretch, Newtownshandrum refused to give in.

The pace was frenetic.

One umpire raised a white flag to a Forde free, but it was overruled by referee Simon Stokes.

At the other end of the field, substitute Turlough O’Neill put Newtownshandrum ahead.

In the first minute of added time, substitute Robert Carroll pointed, a score that was vigorously challenged by the Newtown sideline.

Stalwart Jamie Coughlan was out on his feet, yet he kept going and drew a foul, he subsequently scored his 11th point to push Newtownshandrum in front again.

Charleville, who had squandered a few opportunities had one to level but Darren Butler’s shot tailed wide.

And when Newtown attacked, it was Coughlan who found Robert Troy for a 64th minute goal.

Charleville won the toss and elected to play into the wind.

Newtownshandrum led from the off when Coughlan forced a ’65, which he converted.

Forde, on free-taking duty due to the absence of Fitzgibbon, achieved parity. 

It set the tone, with the sides deadlocked twice more, before Charleville took control with a Tim Hawe 10th minute goal that had Alan Dennehy and Forde prominent in the build-up.

Points from Cormac O’Brien - excellent up front - and Coughlan following a foul on Kieran O’Sullivan responded.

Charleville managed to keep the three-point lead, 1-5 to 0-5 on the quarter hour mark.

A brilliant 10-minute spell yielded four unanswered points for Newtownshandrum, Coughlan (3) and Conor Griffin to regain the lead.

Forde evened the scoreboard for the sixth time.

O’Brien (after a towering fetch) and Griffin gave the initiative back to Newtown.

Even though a Finbarr Cagney and Forde free closed the half, another Coughlan free tipped the balance in Newtownshandrum’s favour at the break, 0-12 to 1-8.

They continued where they left off and put another brace on the board to lead by three.

It was back and forth, but importantly Newtownshandrum with Tim O’Mahony ’s leadership driving them on, they always stayed one ahead.

Forde and Coughlan were raising most of the flags.

A sublime second sideline cut from O’Brien stretched the lead 0-19 to 1-13 in the 52nd minute.

Seán Bresnan was instrumental in pulling Charleville back into it, his pair of points and one from Jack Callaghan had them on level terms.

But it was Newtownshandrum who had the momentum at the end.

Scorers for Newtownshandrum: J Coughlan (0-11, 0-9 frees, 0-1 65), C O’Brien (0-4, 0-2 sl), Robert Troy (1-0), C Griffin (0-2), D O’Connor, R Geary, P Noonan and T O’Neill (0-1 each).

Scorers for Charleville: D Forde (0-10 frees), T Hawe (1-0), S Bresnan (0-3), J Callaghan, R Carroll, G Kelleher and F Cagney (0-1 each).

NEWTOWNSHANDRUM: J Bowles; J Hogan, C Twomey (Capt), T McCarthy; Rory Troy, T O’Mahony, K O’Sullivan; B Collins, P Noonan; Robert Troy, C O’Brien, D O’Connor; J Geary, J Coughlan, C Griffin.

Subs: T O’Neill for J Geary (bs 29-ht), R Geary for J Geary (41), M Linehan for D O’Connor (54), S Minihane for J Hogan (56), T O’Neill for P Noonan (57).

CHARLEVILLE: C Reynolds; D Butler (Capt), J Meade, F Cagney; J Buckley, A Dennehy, J Callaghan; C O’Carroll, S Bresnan; Z Biggane, D Forde, G Kelleher; D Casey, T Hawe, C Buckley.

Subs: R Carroll for T Hawe (half-time), O O’Connell for G Kelleher (43), J Madigan for D Casey (48).

Referee: Simon Stokes (Tullylease).

CORK GAA CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS

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CORK GAA CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS

Your home  for all the latest news, match reports, features, opinions and expert analysis from the Cork GAA Club Championships.