Midleton edge out Ballinora to lift Premier 1 U14 hurling title

Midleton 2-11 Ballinora 1-7

MIDLETON were crowned Rebel Óg Coiste U14 Premier 1 Hurling champions as they saw off the challenge of a gallant Ballinora side in the decider, before a sizeable attendance at Ballinlough.

With both sides struggling to score from distance,  Midleton’s first goal in the second quarter was decisive. The second half was more evenly contested, as Ballinora’s goal in the third quarter moved them within five points of the East Cork side. 

There were four points between the sides with time running out as Darragh Casey got Midleton’s second goal from the edge of the Mid Cork side’s square, after winning possession from a Midleton free.

Ballinora made the better start as they had Midleton on the defensive in the game’s opening exchanges and Ballinora’s Donagh Conway traded points from play with Midleton’s Eoghan Donovan.

The Imokilly side were to be denied the game’s first two goal-scoring opportunities as Ballinora goalkeeper Charlie O’Mahony pulled off some spectacular save from close range by Midleton’s Kian Crowley and Tadhg O’Dowd.

Tomas O’Shea converted the game’s first free for the Imokilly side in the eighth minute, before Billy Mehigan tagged on a point from play for the Muskerry side to tie the scores at two points apiece.

Donovan and Crowley each tagged on unanswered points from play to open up a two-point gap for the East Cork side. Denis O’Mahony responded as he converted a 65 for Ballinora, to leave the minimum between the sides before the Mid Cork side found themselves pinned back.

Michael O’Connor won possession for the East Cork side, following a Ballinora sideline cut and he set up O’Shea for the game’s first goal from the edge of the Muskerry side’s square.

O’Shea and McInerney each tagged on further points from play to give Midleton an interval lead of 1-6 to 0-3.

The first scoring opportunity of the second half fell to Ballinora, as Conway slotted over a free from the Midleton 65-metre line, three minutes after the restart.

Ballinora promptly found themselves on the back foot as Donovan, McInerney and O’Dowd each tagged on unanswered pointed from play for the Imokilly side.

Midway through the second half, the Mid Cork side worked the ball up the park, to set up Denis O’Mahony for a goal from the edge of the Midleton square to reduce the deficit to five points.

In the final quarter, persistent fouling was proving to be costly for both sides as Denis O’Mahony slotted over two frees for the Muskerry side. Midleton responded with pointed frees by Donovan and net-minder Will Stokes, before their second gaol put the game beyond Ballinora’s reach.

Scorers for Midleton: T O’Shea 1-2 (0-1 f); E Donovan 0-4 (0-1 f); D Casey 1-0; D McInerney 0-2; W Stokes 0-1 f; K Crowley, T O’Dowd 0-1 each.

Ballinora: D O’Mahony 1-3 (0-2 f, 0-1 65); D Conway 0-2 (0-1 f); B Mehigan, J O’Riordan 0-1 each.

MIDLETON: W Stokes; T Galvan, L Cronin, C O’Neill; C McSharry, L O’Sullivan, C Power; K Leister, E Donovan; D McInerney, M O’Connor, F Byrne; K Crowley, T O’Dowd, T O’Shea.

Subs: D Casey for Crowley (39), C Brady for McInerney (60+).

BALLINORA: C O’Mahony; P Burke, C Noonan, P Kelly; C Murphy, F Murphy, R O’Sullivan; P O’Mahony, D O’Mahony; S Fenton, B Mehigan, B Murphy; S O’Sullivan, D Conway, J Coakley.

Subs: J Riordan for Fenton (h-t), S Cahill-Feeley for S O’Sullivan (38), J Lynch for Coakley (52), K O’Mahony for Burke (60+).

Referee: Cathal Egan (Glen Rovers).