Gaelic Games/ Munster Club Hurling Final: Having devised the template Cork hurlers have used to annexe two All-Irelands, county champions Newtownshandrum are zeroing in on their own second after staying a point ahead of Waterford's Ballygunner in yesterday's Munster club final.

It rounded off a great 2005 for manager Bernie O'Connor, whose twin sons, Ben and Jerry, picked up All-Ireland medals and All Stars, with Jerry also landing the Hurler of the Year accolade. Intensifying his satisfaction was the quality of the match, which ended with the Cork side ahead by one, 0-16 to 1-12.

Ballygunner, in pursuit of their first title in four years, stood up to the pace of the favourites' relentless support game and countered with their own, more direct approach. Despite a strong wind and the time of year, the quality of play was exceptional, with long-range points, great movement and the result in the balance for the whole hour.

"I think it was a fantastic game of hurling for the month of December," said O'Connor afterwards. "A match in the summer wouldn't compete with that. We were expecting nothing less from them. The year before we won the All-Ireland we played them in a challenge over in Ardfinnan and they gave us the mother and father of a beating.

"They were not that good today, but we were probably better again. They're a good side and we were under pressure to beat them. When the goal went in I was concerned. Up to that no, but definitely after it went in."

O'Connor felt there had been room for improvement. Despite what looked like a textbook display of their short game the manager could still identify unwelcome urges among his players.

"There was an awful lot of times when I felt that our backs in clearing ball were going for the long ball, which we wouldn't normally do. There were fellas running out here and we were putting it over into loose opponents. I suppose against the wind they felt under pressure and were clearing panic ball."

He also believes the team are better than the side that won the All-Ireland two seasons ago. "They were only children then. They've all grown into men now, but they're still young enough. Pat Mulcahy is 30, but the next are 26 and under."

In Leinster, Kilmacud Crokes won their first provincial football title in 11 years. Just as back in 1994 against Seneschalstown, yesterday's victory over Sarsfields was a tight squeak, ending in a one-point win, 0-10 to 0-9, for the south Dublin club.

Scores from Mark Davenport, Ray Cosgrove and Mark Vaughan helped build an 0-8 to 0-3 lead at the break. The Kildare side brought in Pádraig Brennan for the second half and he kick-started a revival, but late points from Liam McBarron and Conor Murphy kept Kilmacud - just about - out of reach.

An inspirational first-half performance by Johnny Magee laid the foundation for Crokes' success. "Johnny Magee shouldn't have been playing today," said his manager, Nicky McGrath. "Johnny had the flu all week. He didn't feel 100 per cent going out, but as soon as you get Johnny out on the field and put a jersey on his back - that's the real man standing out on that field.

"Johnny is a fantastic example for everybody in this club. He is so vital to the cause. Huge man."