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 Searching test for champions Newtown Brendan Larkin, The Examiner | |||
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CORK, Munster and All-Ireland Club hurling champions Newtownshandrum are in real danger of being stripped of their titles tonight as the face Erin’s Own in round three of the Permanent tsb county championship at Pairc Uí Chaoimh (7.30pm).
While Pat Mulcahy returns for his first championship outing following his recent car accident, the champions have lost Dermot Gleeson (US), last year’s captain John McCarthy (leg injury) and Jerry O’Mahony (broken collar bone).
Team coach Ger Cunningham concedes his side are up against it.
“The Cork situation hasn’t helped and losing the services of the three lads is also a big blow to us. We’ve been well beaten in a couple of league games recently which is not the ideal way to be going into such a crucial championship tie,” he said.
“This week is the first time in a while we have had our full panel together and with the game on Friday it hasn’t given us a whole lot of time to do any serious training. But, we are the champions and won’t give up our titles easily. We know we’ll have to play out of our skins as Erin’s Own have a score to settle following their 2000 final defeat by Newtown.”
Beaten by Cork IT in round one just six weeks after the All-Ireland, Newtown bounced back to defeat Delanys but were far from convincing.
Erin’s Own have trained for this one like never before under new coach Sean Prendergast. They, like their opponents, have enjoyed enormous under age success but need to transfer that to the senior team.
“We have put in a huge effort in preparation and there will be no excuses on that front if we are beaten,” said the Lismore man.
“Our team is young in years but has plenty of experience. They are the All-Ireland champions and we will treat them with the respect they deserve. We’ll give it everything and hopefully it will be good enough.”
The arrival of former Waterford senior Sean Daly has given Erin’s Own an extra dimension in attack where Brian Corcoran, Fergus Murphy and Mark O’Connor will have a big say.
Defensively, the Glounthaune side are very strong with an excellent goalkeeper in Shay Bowen. Cian O’Connor and Shane Murphy are very dependable defenders and there is a settled look about this Erin’s Own side.
Newtown will again rely heavily on O’Connor twins Ben and Gerry, ably assisted by John Paul King, John O’Connor, Paul Morrissey and Brendan Mulcahy.
Much will depend on how Pat Mulcahy performs; at his best he has no equal but there is a real danger Newtown could be handing back three trophies at the end of this game.
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www.newtownshandrum.com | |||