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*Seán Arthur of Newmarket-on-Fergus. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
Not since a certain All-Ireland senior winning Tipperary manager provided the winning touch to help them over the line for a relieving first senior crown in 31 years have Newmarket-on-Fergus looked outside the county for inspiration.
Indeed, Liam Sheedy’s influence and more pointedly psychological influence was wholly needed to finally break their Canon Hamilton trophy hoodoo. And therefore following back-to-back group exits and even an unwanted relegation scare in last year’s version, it’s perhaps no surprise that the Blues would go further afield once more to try and work the oracle of getting them back to the right side of the championship shake-up.
In steps Mike Cummins, a Galway native who knows first-hand of what it was like to not exactly make the most of their period of dominance as his Gort side were in a similar boat to Newmarket in the late noughties and early teens. Sandiwiched between dominant eras of Portumna and St. Thomas’, unfortunately Gort lost more finals than they won in that period, a kindred spirit that perhaps proved a factor in his decision to come on board in Newmarket-on-Fergus.
“I knew Newmarket were a big club and probably looking in from Galway, there seemed to be a lot of potential and therefore I thought I could do something with them so that was the real carrot I suppose. Look, Newmarket no more than ourselves in Gort would like to have won more when we felt we were on top In the early part of the last decade but it doesn’t always work out like that. County championship are not easily won so it’s easy look in from the outside and suggest that this team or that team didn’t win enough while they were at the top table but obviously it’s a lot harder than it looks”.
So what were his impressions of Newmarket before he took the job? “It was the strength of their forwards that really caught the eye first. There’s some great attacking talent there and good experience throughout the side too and then you add in the likes of Evan Crimmins, Dara McInerney, Luke Hayes, Damien Lyne and Sean McInerney, we’ve five or six young lads coming into it this year so we’re trying to integrate them into it. So they’re good young lads that bring a new fresh energy to the squad as well to help the competition for places even more”.
His Newmarket education has had to be swift though as aided by locals Kenneth Arthur, Darren Duggan and Christy Ryan, Cummins feels that he and Newmarket are ready to embrace their derby filled pool.
“Oh I’m well tuned into the derby elements and links by now and of course I have some great lads with me in the management that have proven invaluable to me so far and very knowledgeable as well. There were a good few things that we were working on in the Clare Cup and probably like every other team, we were missing four or five different lads every day between injury, lads gone with the Clare Under 20’s and even holidays so we got to really see everyone available to us over the campaign which was great for a new management.
“In the first few matches, I was only finding my feet but I quickly got to know the players and their character and capabilities in the wins and even the semi-final defeat. I mean every day you line out is a learning day and often it’s the days that you lose tell you as much or more than the days you win. But we feel that they’re in good shape so hopefully we can bring a bit of a spark back to Newmarket again this year”.
That flame will have to be ignited from the outset though as Kilmaley are up first in Ruan on Friday evening (7pm), a strong force with a lot to prove themselves following last year’s agonisingly semi-final reverse at the death to eventual champions Éire Óg.
“Look, we’re under no illusions that it’s going to be a massive battle for us because Kilmaley are well seasoned now. I think it’s Brian Culbert’s fourth year with them so they’re well on their way and ferocious in the tackle so we need to match that and go out and do our job and if we can do that, hopefully we can get something out of the match.
“We have to improve on last year and try and get Newmarket competing in the knock-out. Look, everyone last year did their best to try and steer the ship but obviously it just didn’t work out so we’re out to try and put things right this year again. Bringing a bit of consistency back to Newmarket in the championship has to be our main aim over the next few weeks.”
Newmarket-on-Fergus
Management: Mike Cummins (Manager); Kenneth Arthur (Selector/Logistics); Darren Duggan, Derek Clancy, Christy Ryan (Selectors); Fearghal Lawlor (S&C); Mike Clancy, Shane O’Leary, Shane Corcoran (Stats); Micheál O’Leary, Darragh Jones (Kitmen)
Joint-Captains: Éanna Crimmins, Peter Power
Key Player: Éanna Crimmins
One to Watch: Dara McInerney
Fresh Blood: Dara McInerney, Evan Crimmins, Luke Hayes, Sean McInerney
Departure Gate: Colin Ryan (regraded), Seán O’Connor (regraded), Noel Frawley (regraded), Seadhna Liddy (regraded).
Treatment Table: None
Titles Won: 23 (1912, ’16, ’25, ’26, ’27, ’30, ’31, ’36, ’55, ’63, ’64, ’65, ’67, ’68, ’69, ’71, ’72, ’73, ’74, ’76, ’78, ’81, 2012)
Last season’s run: Surprisingly ended up in relegation play-offs following winless group campaign.
Schedule
Round 1 v Kilmaley at Ruan (Friday, July 24th) 7pm
Round 2 v Sixmilebridge at Dr. Daly Park, Tulla (Saturday, August 8th) 1pm
Round 3 v Wolfe Tones at Glenomra Park, Broadford (Sunday, August 23rd) 3.30pm
Championship power ranking (1=weak/unlikely winners, 10=strong contenders): 7
