NEWCASTLE WEST MAKE IT 5 IN A ROW IN CLOSE ENCOUNTER!!

West JUNIOR B Hurling Championship Final,October 10TH,2000,at RATHKEALE.

Newcastle West...................................................................................................0-11

Templeglantine....................................................................................................1-06

Last Saturday in Rathkeale, Newcastle west defeated Templeglantine 0-11 to 1-06 in the West Junior B Hurling Final in ideal weather conditions with the pitch in great order. This was to be the Magpies fifth title in a row and they were made to fight all the way for this one by a gallant Templeglantine team who can be proud of their performance over the hour.

The hurling itself might not have been the greatest, but the commitment by both teams was brilliant and the experience gained over the years proved to be the difference in the end for this Newcastle West team. Templeglantine started nervously and missed a couple of good scoring chances. Newcastle West took full advantage of this, scoring the first two points of the game inside the first ten minutes, one each from Liam Cremin and a well struck point from play by Vincent Sheehan, after good work by Karl Lenihan. Templeglantine opened their account with a free, which was cancelled out within a minute by a free from Liam Cremin. However Templeglantine had the score level before twenty minutes of the game had passed. In the closing stages of this half, Newcastle West took control, scoring three points in a row, two by Liam Cremin and one from long range by Derek Power, leaving the half time score, Newcastle West 0-6 to Templeglantine 0-3. 

Newcastle West started the second half like they ended the first, scoring four points in a row in a ten minute spell, two more by Liam Cremin from frees and two further points by Derek Power from play, stretching their lead to seven points. At this stage Newcastle West seemed to go to sleep,as for the next ten minutes, Templeglantine took over completely, scoring 1-03 without reply, to leave only two points between the teams. For the final ten minutes, both defences were on top, with scoring opportunities hard to come by. Templeglantine had a great chance from a twenty metre free, but failed to convert the chance. From that, Newcastle West went down the field and Tony Ahern hit the insurance point, with a huge delivery from all of fifty yards, to leave the final score,Newcastle West 0-11, to Templeglantine 1-06.

Newcastle West always looked like they were capable of stepping up a gear,but will know that more will be required in the County stages. The team's best performers on the day were Joe Lee, Mike O'Brien, Senan Kelly,James Hennessy, Derek Power, Vincent Sheehan, Seanie Gleeson and Liam Cremin. Johnny Brosnahan, presented the cup to the Newcastle West captain Liam Cremin. Liam thanked the players for their dedication and effort, and brought the West Junior B Hurling cup back Arraside for the fifth time in five years.

TEAM: Kevin Keating; Joe Lee, Mike O'Brien, Dan O'Connor;Senan Kelly, Sean Barrett, James Hennessy; Tony Ahern(0-1), Karl Lenihan;Vincent Sheehan(0-1), Tommy Quinn, Derek Power(0-3); Seanie Gleeson,Willie Hurley, Liam Cremin(0-6,0-5 frees),Capt. SUBS: Darren McCarthy,Barry Holland, JP Ahern, Paul Devine, Steve Nash, Johnny Phillips.