Midleton 4-22
Blackrock 3-19
THE SENIOR HURLING kingpins bowed out in Cork this afternoon, Blackrock undone by a scoring blitz that Midleton unleashed in the third quarter to settle this semi-final clash.
In possession of a three-point advantage at half-time, Midleton cracked home three goals in that spell early in the second half and while they conceded one to Niall Cashman, a terrific score by the Cork defender, the damage had been done by the East Cork team.
Their 4-16 to 2-13 lead at the midway mark of the second half proved unassailable to ensure Midleton will contest the final for the first time since 2018 and sees title holders Blackrock fall short in their attempts to retain their crown.
Conor Lehane capped a fine display with the last point of the day, swelling his total to ten for the day. Cormac Beausang hit 1-4 in a sparkling showing at full-forward, while Luke O’Farrell, Pa White and Ross O’Regan all raised green flags in that productive third quarter for the team coached by Ben O’Connor.
The first-half was a free-flowing affair, characterised by the space both teams created in attack and the volume of scores they registered.
They shared 25 points between them, both teams rattled the net and the upshot was Midleton just shaded the exchanges at the break, 1-14 to 1-11. That was a product of a strong burst by Ben O’Connor’s charges before the interval, as they outscored Blackrock 0-5 to 0-2 after the 23rd minute.
The goals arrived early and in quick succession. Cormac Beausang accelerated in from the left wing and finished off his left side in the 5th minute for Midleton, the towering figure of Mark O’Keeffe replied for Blackrock two minutes later, a timely boost as things threatened to unravel for the champions as they stared at a five-point deficit.
Blackrock’s best spell came in the first quarter, trailing 1-3 to 0-1 after five minutes but in front 1-6 to 1-4 by the 12th minute. Yet Midleton steadied and gradually moved ahead. Conor Lehane amassed 0-6 in the opening period, including two exceptional points from play, one from either wing. Beausang was always dangerous at full-forward and Tommy O’Connell hit one terrific point from his centre-forward berth.
Then came that third quarter surge from Midleton which powered them towards the finish line. They had a couple of other openings to net late on but Gavin Connolly in the Blackrock goal denied O’Farrell and Beausang, while the impressive John O’Sullivan booted home a late goal for Blackrock as they chased the game.
Scorers for Midleton: Conor Lehane 0-10 (0-6f), Cormac Beausang 1-4, Ross O’Regan 1-2, Luke O’Farrell 1-1, Pa White 1-0, Paul Haughney 0-2, Sean O’Leary-Hayes, Tommy O’Connell, Sam Quirke 0-1 each.
Scorers for Blackrock: Alan Connolly 0-8 (0-7f), John O’Sullivan 1-3, Niall Cashman 1-2 (0-1 ’65), Mark O’Keeffe 1-0, Robbie Cotter, Daniel Meaney 0-2 each, Stephen Murphy, Michael O’Halloran 0-1 each.
Midleton
1. Brion Saunderson
2. Eoghan Moloney, 3. Luke Dineen, 5. Ciarmhac Smyth
4. Sean O’Leary-Hayes, 6. Tommy O’Connell, 7. Cormac Walsh
8. Paul Haughney, 9. Sam Quirke
15. Sean O’Meara, 10. Conor Lehane (captain), 11. Ross O’Regan
13. Luke O’Farrell, 14. Cormac Beausang, 12. Pa White
Subs
25. Seamus O’Farrell for Haughney (45)
18. Alex Quirke for White (50)
20. Aaron Mulcahy for O’Meara (52)
23. Garan Manley for O’Regan (61)
Blackrock
1. Gavin Connolly
2. Jamie Ryan, 3. Gary Norberg, 4. Conor O’Brien
5. John Cashman, 6. Ciaran Cormack, 7. Niall Cashman
8. Stephen Murphy, 10. Daniel Meaney,
15. Mark O’Keeffe, 14. Shane O’Keeffe, 12. Michael O’Halloran
9. John O’Sullivan, 11. Alan Connolly, 13. Robbie Cotter
Subs
26. Alan O’Callaghan for Norberg (38)
21. David O’Farrell for John Cashman (43)
20. Tadhg Deasy for Mark O’Keeffe (44)
24. Ciaran Cormack for Shane O’Keeffe (45)
Referee: Colm Lyons
They have been ordered by managent to focus on their remaining games eh..management really cracking the whip there! the games that clearly do not mean a whole lot to them. I think this series is beginning to lose its appeal to the public. Obviously being treated as end of season party by the aussies.shame really, it used to be really good.
It’s just a free holiday for the Aussies
Nonsense. Lions players got into a spot in a night club in New Zealand but I don’t see anyone saying scrap that series. Same with the Irish soccer team on numerous occasions. Should we disband them too? They’re young lads with a week until their next game, it happens in every sport.
Yea it’s not like the British lions were facing an Australian team that were no good ……..equally pointless jolly but more money in it and the hype from $ky is swallowed whole by the egg chasing brigade
Time to knock these test series on the head. No genuine interest in the games and they usually turn into a farce. When players like gooch and Cluxton want nothing to do with it I think it’s indicative of the whole series.
I don’t know where this anti scrap the series sentiment is coming from. For many of the players it’s a privilege to wear the Irish shirt, especially those from the smaller counties. Also, looking at the match on Saturday Breffni Park looked pretty much at capacity. So it still appeals to many of the public.
Ahh the ‘knock it on the head’ bandwagon appears… give it a chance lads, just because some people don’t like it doesn’t mean you have to copy what they’re saying. If you don’t like it, then don’t read the article, you obviously have no interest in it. I have no interest in Association Football, but I don’t go on and comment about how the players are little diving pansies.
Hoy, I see what you did there!
Who cares
I hear they were celebrating their applications for Irish citizenship coming through…
Shock horror….the boys on tour go out for a drink. What ever next….chatting up the local talent? What is the world coming to.
It’s a joke,it’s a free end of season piss up for the ozzies.
A lot of the irish players are still in club champo, and games are been
Moved around to suit everybody.
The only way interest will be generated is if it turns into a brawl with a ball… It should be just AFL no mix.
Must be a quiet day for the journo’s if this is what they call sports news!!
At least the poor indigenous aussies were’nt slumming it in dromoland castle ! They behaved in limerick tho !
“Complaints of noise disturbance by the Australian players”?
Does this not mean the Australian players were the ones complaining about the noise disturbance?
Welcome to Ireland no fun allowed
Their at the Inn at Dromoland not Dromoland Castle or at least that is were their bus is parked up. None of them about when I was in the gym. Their heads must still be sore!!
Aussie Brendan in Galway
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gFZ9p9L2b4