Newtownshandrum survive despite Hannon's heroics

MUNSTER SHC SEMI-FINALS/Newtownshandrum 1-17 Adarde 1-14:NEWTOWNSHANDRUM withstood Adare's challenge in a well-contested clash in front of 2,500 spectators at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

The Cork champs couldn’t shake off their opponents, who had, in 16-year-old Declan Hannon, the game’s outstanding player. He scored a magnificent 1-13 for his side.

Over-zealous tackling cost Adare early on as Newtown established an early 0-5 to 0-2 lead.

Hannon’s accuracy restored parity at 0-6 apiece and Ryan Clifford nudged Newtown ahead again before James Bowles scored a cracking 25th-minute goal to help his side to a 1-7 to 0-6 lead.

However Hannon blasted home a 20-metre free to reduce the deficit to a point at the interval.

The O’Connor twins helped Newtown, now with the wind at their backs, ease 1-11 to 1-7 clear, but Hannon claimed the next four scores to level matters and set-up a rousing closing quarter.

The sides were level at 1-12 apiece entering the closing 10 minutes, when Newtown edged clear with two frees from Ben O’Connor and Michael Bowles’ superb point.

Hannon kept his side in touch with a point, but Jerry O’Connor’s reply restored Newtown’s three-point lead, 1-16 to 1-13.

Hannon and Ben O’Connor exchanged pointed frees until time ran out on the Limerick side.

NEWTOWNSHANDRUM: W Biggane; J O’Mahony, B Mulcahy, D Gleeson; S O’Riordan, P Mulcahy, P Noonan; PJ Copse (0-1), C Naughton; R Clifford (0-1), J O’Connor (0-3), M Bowles (0-1); J Coughlan (0-1), J Bowles (1-0), B O’Connor (0-10, eight frees, one ’65). Subs: JP King for J Bowles (45 mins), J Herlihy for Clifford (49 mins).

ADARE: T Houlihan; S O’Connell, JP Healy, S Lavin; R Kennedy, M Foley, P Keane; W McNamara, A O’Rahilly; D Hannon (1-13, 1-9 frees), B Foley, C Fitzgerald; L Costello, A O’Connell, D Sheehan (0-1), captain. Subs: J Fitzgibbon for A O’Connell (27 mins), M Clifford for Kennedy (half-time), M Noonan for Costello (43 mins).

Referee: P Casey (Waterford).