“We’re pushing them too hard” | NCW’s Jimmy Lee gives honest thoughts on his dual players after Fr Caseys win

Newcastle West’s hurlers and footballers have been in action for nine successive weekends.

Reigning Senior Football Champions Newcastle West secured their place in the last four of this year’s edition after defeating Fr Caseys 0-12 to 0-11 on Sunday, maintaining their 100% win record.

Both sides went into Sunday’s clash with four wins from four and a semi-final place up for grabs but NCW edged it despite trailing at the interval.

In the aftermath, NCW manager Jimmy Lee was happy with his side’s achievement as they moved within two games of retaining their title for the first time.

“It was never going to be an easy game. Fr. Casey’s are a decent team, we were under no illusions coming in but happy at the end of it obviously we came out at the right end of the result and it’s important that we win the those tough battles, they’re as good as winning by, whatever many scores it makes no difference.”

Due to the Magpies involvement in the Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship, a crop of NCW’s players have been in action for nine consecutive weeks with this weekend being their first weekend off in almost three months.

Lee believes that this treatment goes against the players welfare and expects the situation to get worse in the coming weeks where both the hurlers and footballers are in action in the same weekend.

“We have a lot of dual players, I mean we’re on the road with the last nine weeks, so look a weekend of a break is good, we need that.

“I suppose the only danger we have is how the hurling and football kick out because the weekend of the semi-final is meant to be the 8th of October, and we’re playing hurling that weekend and I’m sure somewhere along the road they’re going to try and squeeze some game in, I suppose I’ll be saying loud and clearly we’re not going to squeeze games in.

“I need to look after player welfare, it’s important, we’re pushing them too hard, we’re talking about 14 dual players that will face Knockainey and then we expect them to turn around again.”

Watch the interview in full below:

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