Midleton hold off Éire Óg comeback in cracking hurling league clash
Midleton's Seadnaidh Smyth is tackled by Éire Óg's David Kirwan and Daniel Hurley, during their SHL clash in Midleton. Picture: David Keane.
MIDLETON were brought to the wire by Éire Óg in a thrilling RedFM Senior Hurling League Division 2 clash at Midleton on Friday.
In a game that could have gone either way coming down the stretch, Midleton found the crucial scores when defeat stared them in the face.
Éire Óg, operating two levels below the hosts in championship, gave their all and adding Tomás O’Leary to their coaching staff and Paudie Kissane in strength and conditioning have certainly improved them in many departments.
The East Cork side got the perfect start with their opening possession when a high ball wasn’t dealt with and Ross O’Regan was on hand to drill the ball to the empty net.
Both sides exchanged points in the next couple of minutes but Paul Connaughton was posing the Éire Óg defence problems with his jinking runs and he slotted over a magnificent point in the 11th minute.
The Ovens side were relying on the striking of Eoin O’Shea to keep them in the game but a minute later they almost raised the opening green flag of the game. Full-forward Joe Cooper showed an electric burst of speed but his shot went inches wide of the left post.
Credit to both teams they were playing at high tempo and when O’Shea struck over his fifth point five minutes from the interval it reduced the deficit to five points with Midleton in the driving seat.
Éire Óg were made to battle harder for their scores and right on the stroke of half time they were punished with a sucker punch goal. A lapse in defence was exposed by the energetic Connaughton who gave the keeper no chance with his sublime strike.
Leading 2-9 to 0-8 at the break Midleton knew they needed to kill their gritty opponents off but Éire Óg drew first blood with a superb O’Shea point. He was posing Midleton’s defence problems with his pace and striking and when he added another point coupled with a David Kirwan white flag it reduced the deficit to four.
It was noticeable the intensity increased and with the match referee Pa O’Driscoll allowing a lot of physical contact the players got overheated with a mini-brawl midway through the half.
The wind was now favouring Éire Óg and Midleton, after taking eight minutes to open their second-half scoring, got one on the board courtesy of a Cormac Beausang point.
The Ovens side sensed they had their opponents on the ropes and when O’Shea split the posts with seven minutes remaining the deficit was reduced to the minimum. At this stage, Midleton could have wilted but they showed their class in the closing minutes with a Ross O’Regan point sealing the deal.
R O’Regan, P Connaughton 1-3 each, C Beausang 0-4 (0-3 f), P White 0-3, S Quirke, L O’Farrell, P Haughney 0-1 each.
E O’Shea 0-10 (0-5 f), D Kirwan, J Cooper, D Casey 0-2 each, B Corcoran, K Hallissey, B Hurley 0-1 each.
C Hurley, S Smyth, D Scanlon, C Gunning; C Murphy, C Smyth, R Hartnett; S Quirke, P Haughney; A Mulcahy, A Quirke, C Beausang; P Connaughton, P White, R O’Regan.
L O’Farrell for A Hurley (h-t).
E O’Shea; B Corcoran, M Brady, J Mullins; D Dineen, C McGoldrick, D Herlihy; D McCarthy, K Hallissey; D Kirwan, E O’Shea, B Hurley; D Casey, J Cooper, D Hanley.
E Kelleher for K Hallissey (46), C Clifford for D Herlihy (52).
Pa O’Driscoll (Bride Rovers).
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