Premier SHC: Midleton-Sarsfields final recalls memories of Conor Lehane tour de force in 2013 decider

Sunday’s Co-op SuperStores Cork Premier SHC final between Midleton and Sarsfields represents a first since the change in format in 2020.

Last year, neither the Magpies nor their Riverstown opponents managed to get out of their respective groups, despite beginning the campaign among the favourites, with Midleton as defending champions.

With five hurling tiers and four in football up to last year, by the end of this campaign there will have been 32 finals across both codes. Taking out the nine deciders of 2020, that means this is the first time in 23 championships that the finalists did not emerge from their group to feature in action the previous year.

Perhaps it’s not surprising that this should happen in the top tier of hurling, given how democratic it has become. If Sars were to win, they would be the fourth different champions in four years under the new system.

While Sars will become the fifth side to partake in the final in that time – Blackrock, Glen Rovers and Midleton each with two appearances in the decider – there are no ever-presents at the semi-final stage. Contrast that with the premier senior football, where St Finbarr’s and Castlehaven are four from four in the last four.

Sars and Midleton were in the same group in both 2020 and 2021. In the first year, Sars won three from three with Douglas defeating Midleton to take second; the following season, Sars and Midleton each won their opening two games to set up a last-round game where both were through.

Sars came out on top that day but Midleton regrouped to win the county – their first since 2013, which was of course against Sars.

That victory was the Magpies’ first since 1991. Conor Lehane scored 2-10, all but five of his side’s tally, with 2-8 coming from play as he continued the supreme level of performance he had displayed since that year’s All-Ireland final.

Daniel Kearney’s point inside 12 seconds struck the first blow for Sars, and while Lehane gave notice of his intentions with a pair of scores, fewer than five minutes had elapsed when Michael Cussen struck for a Sars goal, profiting from Éanna Martin’s delivery.

Though Gavin O’Loughlin strengthened the lead, Lehane had Midleton level almost immediately as he took advantage of indecision in defence to fire to the net.

With Daniel Kearney working very hard at midfield to provide ball inside, Sars were forcing frees which Cian McCarthy was able to convert and by the 20th minute they were 1-7 to 1-4 in front. Then Lehane struck again though, nicking a Paul Haughney ball past Alan Kennedy, and he finished the half with three more points to ensure they led at the interval, 2-8 to 1-7.

Though McCarthy and Cussen helped to wipe out that lead in the opening stages of the second period, Midleton powered on again and with Lehane (two) and O’Farrell on target they opened up their biggest advantage of the game up to that stage.

Back Sars came again, however. When centre-back Eoin Quigley – who impressed in defence – launched a ball into Cussen, he provided the lay-off for McCarthy to convert.

When McCarthy added a point after Eoin O’Sullivan had been fouled, Sars were 2-11 to 2-10 in front and appeared set to win back-to-back titles for the first time and make it four victories in six years.

Midleton had other ideas though. Lehane produced an outrageous effort from the left after O’Shea’s good win in the air and then O’Shea himself rounded off a move involving Séamus O’Farrell and Aidan Ryan to swing things back their way again.

Sars would not go away and McCarthy’s frees ensured that they were level at 2-13 each with 10 minutes left, but it was Midleton’s day. Lehane’s free from the 65m line edged them in front once more and then O’Farrell gave them breathing space.

Aside from Lehane’s tour de force, Midleton also had excellent displays from wing-back James Nagle and Peter Dowling at midfield. While there was a hint of anxiety in some poor wides as the second half wore on, they had two points to spare, winning by 2-15 to 2-13.

Scorers for Midleton: C Lehane 2-10 (0-2f, 0-1 65), L O’Farrell 0-3, B Hartnett, P O’Shea 0-1 each.

Sarsfields: C McCarthy 1-7 (0-6f, 0-1 65), M Cussen 1-1, D Kearney 0-2, É Martin (0-1f), G O’Loughlin 0-1 each.

MIDLETON: T Wallace; A Kearney, P O’Mahony, K Burke; S O’Farrell, F O’Mahony, J Nagle; P Haughney, P Dowling; P O’Shea, A Ryan, C Lehane; L O’Farrell, D Ryan, B Hartnett. Sub: C Walsh for D Ryan (34).

SARSFIELDS: A Kennedy; R Ryan, J Barry, C O’Sullivan; G O’Kelly-Lynch, E Quigley, É Martin; D Kearney, E O’Sullivan; G O’Loughlin, C McCarthy, D Roche; K Murphy, R O’Driscoll, M Cussen. Subs: T Óg Murphy for Roche (15-16, blood), C Leahy for O’Kelly-Lynch (21, injured), T Óg Murphy for Roche (27-29, blood), T Óg Murphy for O’Driscoll (half-time), R Murphy for Roche (53-56, blood).

Referee: C Lyons (Nemo Rangers).