IAHC: Midleton through to final as Mulcahy stars
Midleton's Leo Hennessy battles with Blackrock's John O'Sullivan, during their Intermediate AHC clash at Carrigtwohill.
MIDLETON have advanced to the Intermediate A HC final where they will face Aghabullogue, after turning it around in injury time against a 14-man Blackrock side in Carrigtwohill on Friday evening.
Getting the better of the Rockies again as they did in their Premier Senior HC fixture, with Midleton’s Aaron Mulcahy producing an impressive performance on the night, scoring two injury time frees to win it for the Magpies.
Both sides were quick off the mark in the early stages, giving this clash intensity, as the two clubs locked horns for the second time this season, on this occasion with their second teams.
They traded scores twice, before the Rockies pulled ahead with three points on the bounce, as Eoin O’Farrell pointed the first free of the game, before Sean Healy and David O’Farrell pointed from play to put the city side 0-5 to 0-2 up after eight minutes.
The Rockies brief period in control came to an end as the Magpies got on top, with Aaron Mulcahy leading the charge, as the half-forward pointed four times in a row.
Blackrock did get a goal chance with Ryan Sweeney causing all sorts of problems for the Midleton backs, and as an awkward ball dropped to the left of goalkeeper Zach Smith, Dave Scanlon was first to react, managing to prevent Sweeney from netting a goal.
Blackrock were awarded a penalty moments later, as Scanlon again brought down Sweeney, but this time not without fouling him. Taking it himself, Sweeney buried it into the bottom corner to put the Rockies two in front after 20 minutes.
With the penalty providing a boost they now looked unstoppable, while Midleton struggled to find a response. Sweeney pointed twice, while David O’Farrell and John O’Sullivan also scored putting the Rockies into a commanding lead of 1-10 to 0-7.
However, Midleton were given a glimmer of hope when Shane Scanlon handed Lee O’Sullivan his second yellow card and subsequent marching orders at the tail end of the first half.
As Mulcahy pointed from the free it was Midleton’s first score since the 17th minute. The east Cork outfit reduced the gap to five – but crucially had the extra man for the second half.
With nine senior county final winners between the two teams, there was no shortage of quality and that was displayed by Mulcahy’s early scores in the first half – as Gavin Reddy teed up the 2021 PSHC winner as he landed an incredible score.
As Mulcahy pointed again, the Rockies remained composed and kept Midleton at arm’s length. Eoin Smith landed a huge score, before Sweeney restored their five-point advantage.
Midleton scores from Darragh McCarthy and Tiarnán Roche brought the difference down to Sweeney’s penalty, but the Magpies managed the equalising goal after three quarters of an hour.
Reddy got the ball off to Roche, and with Tadgh O’Leary-Hayes free and in space, Roche set up the former Cork minor, who buried it across goal to draw level, 1-13 apiece.
Another score from Mulcahy gave Midleton the lead for the first time since the third minute, while Blackrock levelled the game for the seventh time.
The Rockies then took a two-point advantage as Eoin O’Farrell and John O’Sullivan split the posts that they held until minute 58, as Leo Hennessy landed a superb long-distance point to get the Magpies back within one.
Aaron Mulcahy levelled it for the eighth time as he pointed from a free in injury time before going on to score the winner, setting the Imokilly side up for a final with Aghabullogue, who defeated Mayfield by six.
A Mulcahy 0-13 (0-10 f), T O’Leary-Hayes 1-0, T Roche, D McCarthy 0-2 each, L Hennessy 0-1.
R Sweeney 1-4 (1-0 pen, 0-1 f), 0-7 (0-6 f) J O’Sullivan, D O’Farrell 0-2 each, E Smith, S Healy 0-1 each.
Z Smith; C Gunning, C Murphy, D Scanlon; L Hennessy, J Nagle, T O’Leary-Hayes; A Daly, K Farmer; D McCarthy, A Ryan, A Mulcahy; T Roche, A Quirke, C Crowley.
G Reddy for Farmer (h-t), P O’Shea for Crowley (49), D Cagney for McCarthy (51), P Dowling for Roche (56), A Power for Daly (60+4).
R Browne; R Laide, J Golden, J Ryan; L O’Donovan, E Smith, E Cantwell; S Healy, D O’Farrell; I O’Keeffe, J O’Sullivan, E O’Farrell; R Sweeney, C O’Leary, L O’Sullivan.
T Grainger for Healy (46), J Walsh for O’Leary (48), Healy for Smith (53), C Coakley for O’Donovan (59).
Shane Scanlon (Newcestown).
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