Charleville 2-23 Newcestown 0-18 

Cork star Darragh Fitzgibbon led Charleville to an impressive 11-point win over Newcestown in the Co-Op SuperStores Premier SHC Group 2 Round 1 tie at Grenagh on Sunday afternoon.

The North Cork men did start off slowly, but once they got going, they always looked the likely winners. It was a typical championship contest between two committed and honest teams.

Charleville’s game management was excellent, keeping Newcestown at bay, and it did help at the other end that Fitzgibbon was on song, ending up with 0-11 (0-6 f, 0-1 65).

With Midleton and Newtownshandrum also in this group, both would have been targeting a win here. It was Charleville who were the better team for the majority, crisper in their hurling with also nine different scorers. They led by five points at half-time and despite Newcestown stirring at times, they didn’t have the quality to make a comeback.

Charleville's Daniel O'Flynn celebrates his goal against Newcestown during their Premier SHC clash at Grenagh. Picture: David Keane Charleville’s Daniel O’Flynn celebrates his goal against Newcestown during their Premier SHC clash at Grenagh. Picture: David Keane

It was Newcestown who made the better start albeit aided by a slight breeze. Cork senior footballer David Buckley landing a pair of efforts from difficult angles.

Charleville were doing all the hurling but some poor wides left them down. They then rattled off 1-3 without reply, a lead they wouldn’t surrender.

Experienced campaigner Daniel O’Flynn with a great finish to the net after seven minutes following brilliant work by Fitzgibbon and Jack Callaghan.

During that scoring burst, they could have got a second goal but Newcestown goalkeeper Cathal Wilson, despite seeing Seán Bresnan’s effort late, got down smartly to keep his shot out.

The teams traded points before a Richard O’Sullivan effort did leave the Carbery club a goal behind.

Charleville drove home their dominance with three unanswered points, Zack Biggane’s effort the highlight, 1-7 to 0-4 after 16 minutes.

Séamus O’Sullivan did have a goal opportunity for Newcestown but his effort was stopped by Charleville goalkeeper Conor Reynolds. It did go out for a 65, which Richard O’Sullivan converted.

It was tit for tat for the next number of minutes, the North Cork men ahead 1-10 to 0-8 with three minutes to the break. A Fitzgibbon free did extend Charleville’s lead out to six points before another Richard O’Sullivan free did leave Newcestown five points behind at half-time, 1-11 to 0-9.

Newcestown's Seán O'Donovan gets his pass away under pressure from Charleville's Jack Buckley during their Premier SHC clash at Grenagh. Picture: David Keane Newcestown’s Seán O’Donovan gets his pass away under pressure from Charleville’s Jack Buckley during their Premier SHC clash at Grenagh. Picture: David Keane

Newcestown did start the new half with three of the first four points, Richard O’Sullivan with a pair of frees and an Eddie Kenneally effort, 1-12 to 0-12.

Charleville though were in control of the game, they hit three of the next four points to lead 1-15 to 0-13 after 42 minutes with some fantastic scores.

A Richard O’Sullivan placed ball reduced the lead down to four points, but at this stage, they really required a goal to get back into it. Charleville were defending brilliantly with Jack Meade and Jack Buckley leading by example.

Impressive sub Conor Buckley and a pair of Fitzgibbon white flags, one from a free, gave the winners a 1-18 to 0-14 advantage after 52 minutes.

Newcestown did put together two successive points, but the game was getting away from them especially when their opponents scored 1-2 without reply, sub Tim Hawe with an easy goal after a pass by another sub, Darren Casey, 2-20 to 0-16 after 58 minutes.

Charleville's Jack Callaghan races past Newcestown's Richard O'Sullivan during their Premier SHC clash at Grenagh. Picture: David Keane Charleville’s Jack Callaghan races past Newcestown’s Richard O’Sullivan during their Premier SHC clash at Grenagh. Picture: David Keane

Newcestown sub Ciarán Hurley did point, but Charleville then had a chance of a third goal in added time after Hawe was fouled and a penalty was awarded. Fitzgibbon stepped up, but Newcestown netminder Cathal Wilson guessed the right way to keep the effort out.

The North Cork men landed three of the last four points to run out comprehensive winners. Worrying times for Newcestown.

Charleville will face local rivals Newtownshandrum in the next group game while Newcestown meet Midleton.

Scorers for Charleville: D Fitzgibbon 0-11 (0-6 f, 0-1 65), D O’Flynn 1-2, C Buckley 0-3, T Hawe 1-0, Z Biggane, S Bresnan 0-2 each, J Callaghan, R Carroll (f), G Kelleher 0-1 each.

Newcestown: R O’Sullivan 0-10 (0-7 f, 0-2 65), S O’Sullivan, D Buckley 0-2 each, L Meade (f), E Kenneally, C Dinneen, C Hurley 0-1 each.

CHARLEVILLE: C Reynolds; D Butler, J Meade, A Dennehy; F Cagney, J Buckley, R Carroll; C O’Carroll, J Callaghan; Z Biggane, S Bresnan, D Fitzgibbon; D Forde, D O’Flynn, G Kelleher.

Subs: T Hawe for D O’Flynn (42, inj), C Buckley for G Kelleher (46), A Cagney for D Forde (49), D Casey for S Bresnan (51), O O’Connell for C O’Carroll (55).

NEWCESTOWN: C Wilson; M McSweeney, E Collins, J Kelleher; Colm O’Donovan, L Meade, C O’Sullivan; J Meade, R O’Sullivan; S O’Sullivan, G O’Donovan, S O’Donovan; D Buckley, E Kenneally, C Dinneen.

Subs: C O’Neill for M McSweeney (38), C Hurley for S O’Sullivan (46, inj), Ciarán O’Donovan for S O’Donovan (54, inj).

Referee: Wayne King (Banteer).