Newtown’s 1996 triumph was just the start

1996 was a huge year for Avondhu GAA.

The Divisional Senior hurlers won the County Senior Hurling Championship. Clyda Rovers won the County Intermediate Football Championship, and Newtownshandrum were crowned County Intermediate Hurling Championship kingpins with a number of their players being members of the Avondhu side.

That year they played Cloyne in the County IHC final in Ballincollig. The game finished all square. Cloyne led by a point with three minutes remaining. Newtown forced a free and Ben O’Connor levelled.

In injury time another free for Newtown went narrowly wide. It finished 1-10 to 2-7. The replay in Páirc Uí Chaoimh saw the Avondhu side have a three point win 0-12 to 0-9. Their scorers were: Ben O’Connor 0-6, Donal Mulcahy 0-3, Dan O’Riordan 0-2, Jerry O’Connor 0-1.

Newtown with a young side were to enjoy 10 great years, while for Cloyne who were beaten in the 1996 County IHC final, they contested three County Senior Hurling Championship finals in a row losing the three to Na Piarsaigh in 2004 by 0-17 to 0-10, the following year they met Newtown and were beaten by 0-15 to 0-9.

The third county final was in 2006 where Erins Own defeated Cloyne 2-19 to 3-14.

The Newtown success was the start of a glorious 10 year period. In 1998 Newtownshandrum were crowned County Under 21 A HC winners when the defeated Na Piarsaigh 1-12 to 0-7 in Fermoy. In 1999 Newtown retained the County Under 21 A HC title with a win over Erins Own in Fermoy 1-13 to 1-7.

The Minor A hurlers won the county championship defeating Youghal in Fermoy 2-9 to 1- 9. 2000 was a huge year for Newtown. They defeated Erins Own in the County SHC final by 0-14 to 0-11. Their Under 21 A hurlers won the county title for the third year in a row when the accounted for Glen Rovers 1-17 to 1-7 again in Fermoy.

In 2002 Newtownshandrum were back in another County SHC final. On this occasion they lost out to Blackrock by 1-14 to 0-12.

In 2003 the Avondhu side reversed the 2002 result with a resounding 0-17 to 1- 9 win over Blackrock. That year they also reached the County Premier MHC final, but were defeated by Bishopstown 5-15 to 2- 9.

In 2004 their great rivals Cloyne made it to the County SHC final, but lost to Na Piarsaigh. Newtown’s next success was in 2005 when their opponents were

Cloyne. On this occasion Newtown took the county title by 0-15 to 0-9.

In 2006 Newtown reached the County Under 21 A HC final, but lost out to Bishopstown by 1-9 to 1-8.

In 2007 Newtown were back in the County SHC final where they lost to Erins Own by 1-11 to 1-7.

Newtown came back in 2009 to win another Co SHC title beating Sarsfields in the final 3-22 to 1-12. That year they were also crowned County Premier MHC (2) winners over Fr O’Neill’s by 5-11 to 2-14.

On St. Patrick’s Day 2004 Newtown won the All Ireland Club Hurling title with a 0-17 to 1-6 win over Dunloy.

For a small club who won the Avondhu JAHC title in 1992 after a replay by a single point it was a massive 10 or 11 years. The winning of the County IHC in 1996 was certainly the stepping stone for the success of the years that followed. (1) Winner (A) v Winner (F) (2) Winner (E) v Winner (D) Semi-Finals

Winner (C) v Winner (1) Winner(B) v Winner (2)