Boost for Cork hurling as Midleton CBS and Christians push into the Harty Cup semi-finals

A FIRST all-Cork final in the Dr Harty Cup since 1994 could be on the cards after yesterday’s quarter-final action.

Midleton CBS and CBC have put themselves in a position of making it through to the decider which would be the first all Cork affair since ’94 when the North Mon, led by Seán Óg Ó hAilpín, defeated a Midleton CBS outfit featuring Donal Óg Cusack, Joe Deane and Diarmuid O’Sullivan.

However, both Midleton and Christians face severe tests in their semi-final encounters before they can dream of replicating the classic Leeside showdown of 24 years ago, CBC against the title favourites Ardscoil Rís and Midleton CBS against the holders, Our Lady’s Templemore.

CBC secured a magnificent victory over competition specialists St Colman’s Fermoy yesterday on a scoreline of 1-17 to 1-13.

A crucial goal by substitute Denis McBarron in the 55th minute proved to be the game’s defining score and sent the school, more famous for its rugby exploits, into their first semi-final.

Robert Downey posted four points while Shane Barrett and Iarlaith Daly followed with a hat-trick each.

CBC coach and Cork senior selector Donal O’Mahony was delighted with the outcome: “This was our third year playing them at this stage of the competition. They had won the previous two so we knew we faced a massive challenge.

“They have a great cup tradition whereas we are building one. It came down to a dogfight in the end and it was a hard game of hurling, played manly and we came out on the right side. We showed we had learned from the last few years.”

Midleton CBS had to dig deep too to see off the challenge of Thurles CBS. Just the bare minimum divided the teams in Clonmel, 0-15 to 1-11.

Carrigtwohill’s Liam Gosnell was near impeccable with his free-taking, converting seven points from the placed ball while Cork minor and the man of the match in the Cork County Senior final, Ger Millerick from Fr O’Neill’s was outstanding all through. Liam O’Shea, Darragh Moran, Joe Stack, Cathal Hickey and Kian Farmer all posted important points for the east Cork school.

Midleton were the last Cork winners of the trophy in 2006 but there is cautious optimism now that the long wait for another win might be coming to an end.

There was no joy, however, for Gaelcoláiste Mhuire AG who were comprehensively beaten by Ard Scoil Rís on a scoreline of 3-20 to 1-5.

Clare senior player, Diarmuid Ryan returned a tally of 1-4 for the Limerick team