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THE top teams rely on their powers of resilience, graft and character just as much as style, flair and panache.

Newtown Blues have produced plenty of the latter over the years, but they are masters of the darker arts too, and when a bit of old-fashioned elbow-grease was called for at the Gaelic Grounds on Sunday, they weren’t found wanting.

The reigning champs broke Naomh Mairtin hearts with a stubborn and clinical late blitz, wiping out a five-point deficit in the final 10 minutes of an absorbing Anchor Tours SFC decider.

They must have been uncorking the champagne in the Monasterboice Inn as the Jocks closed in on a first ever senior title in their maiden final, but in the end it was Garvey’s hosting the post-match celebrations as the Blues dangled