Midleton U21 manager Pat Walsh thrilled after strong finish to the season

ACROSS the board, the return of the U21 competitions was certainly a welcome one this year. For Midleton, it meant a chance at redemption after losing two county finals in the same season.

Midleton’s U21 management team had three members of the backroom team they had at senior level – Pat Walsh, Alywin Kearney, and Padraig O’Shea. The trio joined Davy O’Brien and Jerry Smyth.

They approached the East Cork U21 A hurling championship with a simple goal; get something out of the year – win the competition.

Their managerial approach with the seniors was certainly a success in 2023 – even though it failed to bear fruit in the end. They raised the standards of the entire panel, which is why they made final appearances in the PSHC and IAHC.

“It was excellent today,” said manager Pat Walsh after the game. “With Sars beating us in the senior final, there was a bit of hurt there.

“I said it to the lads before the game, and I think the wind had a huge factor in it, but they fought hard. It would be pity there if we drew that game and went to extra time, but I’m delighted to get it over the line.” 

The win was the perfect send off for Walsh – who is stepping back from working with the seniors and adult teams as a whole, and will instead focus on underage development for the time being.

“I’ve just stepped down from the seniors, and I'm going back to U15. Look, there's a good management team there with Micheál Keohane, Paudie [O’Shea] and Aggie [Kearney], and there’s more good lads coming through. It’s a massive workload, and obviously my own injury didn’t help.” 

POTENTIAL

Of the group of players that defeated Sars last weekend, Paul Connaughton and Aaron Coughlan are the only two starters that were on the age and won’t be playing in next season’s U21 competition.

I think Midleton are in a good place. 

"This game was in an end of year competition, and they showed what they're about – that they can knuckle down and roll up the sleeves. I see a lot of fellas are hurting from Páirc Uí Chaoimh losing the intermediate and senior finals, so this gives them a lift, and it shortens the winter anyway!

“Look, to see 44 lads from 21 to U17 for a puck last Tuesday night, gave the selection committee a great lift,” Walsh explains. “Most of the U17s wanted to be part of it, that has to bode well for the future.

“Winning the U19 last year, we had a lot spoken about that competition. I think there were a good few fellas who came through and played senior after. Brion [Saunderson] obviously, Mikey Finn and Dave Cremin. I think a few of these fellas here, the lesser-known fellas need to step up, and put pressure on the established players.

“We knew Sars had big guns, Cathal McCarthy and these fellas are very good on the ball and work through the lines.

“Evan McGrath was outstanding. We deployed him as a man to mark him, and that gave Alex Quirke a bit more room and Alex fights for every ball. I thought David Cremin showed great maturity today, and Mikey Finn was outstanding all year, he deserved a medal.”