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 16 September 2004 Evening Echo | |||
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Cork star Jerry O'Connor vowed Newtownshandrum are fully geared up to retain their Cork county senior hurling crown.
Nearly 10,000 fans showed up for Tuesday nights homecoming in Newtownshandrum, which saw Jerry's brothe; Ben, become the first captain from North Cork to bring the Liam McCarthy home.
And having completed a historic All-Ireland double Jerry O'Connor is hungry for more. "We're going all out to win another county this year. We were slow of the mark at the start of the year against CIT, but on the night the best team won."
And, after coming through the back-door; Newtown have a chance to atone for that defeat when they come against CIT again in the quarter-final. "We have an important match in two weeks time now, and all things going well we can over come that and go on to win our third county championship," said Jerry.
"Since myself and the other Newtown boys were away, I know Ger Cunningham has been busy preparing the other lads. Now that the six of us are back, we will do whatever we can to win this title again," added O'Connor.
Just after half past nine last night, the open top bus arrived outside the club hall, where thousands had arrived from all over North Cork.
The six Newtown players, Ben and Jerry O'Connor, Pat Mulcahy, Paul Morrissey, John Paul King, James Bowles and selector Patsy Morrissey were clearly dumbfounded by the sea of support that came out to meet them.
And Cork coach Donal O'Grady was also proud to be in Cork's new home of hurling and paid tribute to the Newtown players and their club.
"It must be a tremendous feeling for the memebers of Newtown on the Cork panel to come home to their native parish and to get such a reception," O'Grady told the masses.
"I think it shows the esteem in which ye hold these players. It's wonderful to stand here and to look out at thousands who have come to greet us.
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www.newtownshandrum.com | |||
