Premier SHC final: Midleton are the county champions again
Midleton players celebrate their win over Glen Rovers in the Co-Op Superstores Cork Premier SHC final at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
Midleton 0-24 Glen Rovers 1-18
MIDLETON are the Cork hurling champions for the eighth time after they prevailed against Glen Rovers in Sunday’s Co-op SuperStores Cork Premier SHC decider at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
While they never trailed at any stage, the Magpies had to weather a strong Glen response as what had been a nine-point lead was wiped out early in the second half. They never fell behind though and a point from Man of the Match Conor Lehane ensured that they were back in front by the water break.
Cormac Beausang extended the lead and Lehane’s 12th, a free after he had been fouled, opened up the three-point lead that would pertain at the end. However, after Patrick Horgan – who finished with 1-12 for the Glen – scored what proved to the game’s final score in the 58th minute, Midleton struggled to find a point to put themselves four in front, shooting some poor wides and seeing a shot come back off the post.
It meant that the game was still in the melting pot in the fourth minute of injury time when the Glen’s Dean Brosnan sent a delivery goalward. When it broke, Glen sub Conor Dorris was first to reach it but his attempt at an equalising goal went agonisingly wide and Midleton were the champions.
The winners had enjoyed a good start. Playing with the wind, the Magpies – last champions in 2013 – had the game’s first three points, with Conor Lehane on target twice and Cormac Beausang also registering.
While the Glen – beaten in the finals of 2019 and 2020 – got off the mark through a Patrick Horgan free, Midleton remained on top and Seán O’Meara also got on the scoresheet before a pair of superb Ross O’Regan scores made it 0-8 to 0-3 by the 16th minute.
When Beausang forced a turnover that led to Luke O’Farrell being fouled when a goal was on, Lehane’s fourth left them six to the good at the water break.
The flow continued after the resumption, with Lehane prominent in the air against the Glen’s half-back line, and when Cormac Walsh found him with a sideline cut, he landed his seventh to open up a 0-15 to 0-6 advantage by the 27th minute.
However, the Glen got back into it as David Noonan’s delivery caused confusion between Midleton goalkeeper Brion Saunderson and full-back Luke Dineen, with Horgan netting the loose ball.
They finished the half with three of the last four points and stayed in touch on the restart as Lehane and Horgan exchanged frees. On 44, Midleton might have scored a definitive goal as Lehane’s super pass found Seán O’Meara and he tried to play in Beausang but Stephen McDonnell made a vital intervention.
Buoyed by that, the Glen scored the next three points, Horgan with his 11th and Simon Kennefick getting two, and the sides were level.
The Glen looked to have the momentum, but Midleton steadied to move back in front and ultimately the prize.
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