Cunningham wary of Newtown

Cork's Ger Cunningham

Newtownshandrum's return to winning ways this year hasn't come as any surprise to Ballygunner boss Ger Cunningham.

The Cork goalkeeping legend is hoping to plot the 2004 All-Ireland champions' downfall in Sunday's Munster club hurling final, but he knows it will be no easy task.

"They are not an old team by any means. It's just the fact they have been on the road a long time with a lot of success over the years," he said of Cork's undisputed Team of the Decade.

"I suppose it just was a question of their hunger. I suppose Patsy Morrissey (former manager) going in as chairman and as a selector had a big input into it.

"You could see from early in the year they seemed to have set their stall out early. They were very impressive all the way through in Cork.

"They were very impressive in the Cork county final and have come through two tough matches in Munster as well, so obviously it wouldn't be a great surprise to see them there.

"They know how to win matches and you have got to go to the final whistle with them. They don't stop playing at all."