Avondhu to get better of ‘Town

with the concession of a late goal proving their undoing in a contest they controlled for long periods.

Newcestown have built up a reputation as tremendous championship battlers since graduating to senior ranks following their county premier intermediate success in 2010, making a mockery of the prediction, which would have been widespread at the time, that their stay at the top level was going to be shortlived.

As with Avondhu, they have got two wins under the belt this year, recovering from a narrow first round loss, 1-11 to 2-12, against CIT to claim the scalps of Aghada and UCC in turn.

It can be taken for granted they will be a very hard nut to crack, but if Avondhu click as a unit, the quality that players like Colm O’Neill (Ballyclough), James Loughrey (Mallow), Tomas Clancy (Fermoy), Killian O’Hanlon (Kilshannig) and David Pyne (Glanworth) bring to the table will probably be enough to get them through

Verdict: Avondhu BISHOPSTOWN ground down a stubborn Duhallow challenge in round 3 in Pairc Uí Rinn last Sunday.

At times, both sides struggled to adapt to the testing weather conditions that encompassed rain, wind, thunder and lightning over the hour. In those circumstances, the outcome was always likely to be decided on tight margins, territory that Bishopstown exploited best to ultimately secure a deserved win and advance to a meeting against Newtownshandrum.

Credit Duhallow for making the victors work for their success, battling gamely to produce a timely rally either side of the interval to force parity. However, the divisional side favoured by the breeze in the second half failed to obtain the confidence lead point having drawn level on five occasions.

Ultimately Duhallow’s plucky effort fell short, the side lost no caste in defeat on fielding without key players owing to injury and unavailability. And further injuries during the course of the hour hindered progress albeit some of the young talent introduced contributed immensely to Duhallow’s recovery.

But with the game in the melting pot, the difference between club and divisional teams surfaced as Bishopstown pushed on and combined play contributed to shooting a series of well struck points.

A lively start saw goal chances go abegging at either end, Duhallow’s Donal Hannon first timed wide with Anthony Nash saving well from Brian Murray. Bishopstown shaded the play, Brian Murray and Patrick Cronin on target only for William Murphy to reply for the divisional men.

Backed by the fresh breeze and driving rain, Bishopstown held a directness to their approach, complimented by the grip enjoyed by Diarmuiud Lester, Shane O’Neill, Ben Murphy and Murray and Cronin. Points to Eoin McCarthy, Cronin and Ronan Conway steered the ‘Town into a commanding 0-8 to 0-2 position.

Indeed Duhallow were indebted to outstanding work in defence on imposing themselves to blot out a number of additional Bishopstown advances. Steadily, the city side’s promise faded, allowing Duhallow mount a concerted effort, main talisman Hannon converted a free and followed up to add a pair of points