Dr Harty Cup: Late goals help Midleton CBS to take top spot

Midleton CBS 6-20

St Francis College, Rochestown 0-13

While the outcome of this TUS Dr Harty Cup Group 4 game was clear midway through the second half at the SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh 4G pitch on Wednesday, the finer details were in the balance until the very end.

Going into the last match of the three-team group, Midleton CBS had drawn with Nenagh CBS whereas Rochestown’s St Francis College had lost by 21 points to the holders. Midleton led for almost all of the game and third-quarter scoring surge meant that they were assured of victory, but an ever-growing wides tally meant that it looked like they would have to be content with second place.

Then, some hope. In the 49th minute, the excellent Adam Lee combined with Ben Walsh to set up Cian Stack for a goal and with the next play, Lee had a shot saved by goalkeeper Noah Duane only for James O’Brien to prod the rebound home. When that was followed by Stack drilling a shot to the net, their lead was 3-20 to 0-8 with ten minutes left.

Though two points from Cork minor Mark O’Brien reduced Rochestown’s deficit slightly, another Midleton goal – Stack setting up Lee to bring his tally to 1-3 – gave them that magical 22-point barrier, 4-20 to 0-10.

Once again, though, Rochestown responded with points from Charlie Hanratty, Ronan Dooley and sub Tom Lucas. Had O’Brien not been denied a goal by a superb hook from Richie Harney, the dream of topping the table would have gone.

However, Midleton made the most of that let-off as sub Cormac Deane linked with Tadgh O’Donoghue Brosnan before wing-back Colm Garde capped a fine display with a bullet to the net and then Deane made sure of things at the death, giving them 25 points to spare.

While they were the better team, it looked for long periods that wayward shooting would cost them. The wides tally topped out at 22, evenly split across each half, meaning that, after a slow start, Rochestown were able to draw level at 0-5 each after 14 minutes following a good score from Cathal Lowney.

Midleton, with James O’Brien excellent around the middle, did reply to that with five points in a row – the best of them seeing Fionn Murphy find Garde with a puckout and he in turn delivered the ball to Lee for a point, the ball never touching the ground.

By half-time, they were 0-11 to 0-6 to the good and that lead was stretched on the restart, with six unanswered points between the 40th and 45th minutes moving them 0-20 to 0-8 in front.

There was work to do from there to make up the scoring-difference shortfall, but they found their goal touch impressively.

Scorers for Midleton CBS: T O’Donoghue Brosnan 0-6 (0-4 f, 0-1 65), A Lee, C Stack 1-3 each, C Garde 1-2, J O’Brien 1-1, C Deane 1-0, C Morley, P Barrett 0-2 each, J O’Leary 0-1.

St Francis College: M O’Brien 0-4 (0-1 f), C Hanratty 0-3, R Dooley, C Lowney 0-2 each, A Geary, T Lucas 0-1 each.

MIDLETON CBS: F Murphy (Killeagh); T Dunlea (Midleton), C Cronin (Midleton), R Harney (Kiltha Óg); B Walsh (Killeagh), C O’Callaghan (Kiltha Óg), C Garde (Lisgoold); J O’Leary (Lisgoold), E Fraser (Midleton); C Morley (Midleton), J O’Brien (St Colman’s), T O’Donoghue Brosnan (Fr O’Neills); A Lee (St Colman’s), C Stack (Midleton), P Barrett (Midleton).

Subs: F Daly (Kiltha Óg) for Barrett (45), Barrett for Daly (47-48), C Deane (Killeagh) for Daly (48).

ST FRANCIS COLLEGE: N Duane (Douglas); L Kelleher (Douglas), R Sisk (Crosshaven), D O’Donoghue (Douglas); J O’Brien (Douglas), D Reddington (Douglas), A Geary (Blackrock); C Lowney (Tracton), C Hanratty (Carrigaline); S O’Keeffe (Douglas), F O’Keeffe (Blackrock), O O’Donovan (Passage); M O’Brien (Douglas), R Dooley (Douglas), C Fitzgerald (Douglas).

Subs: T Lucas (Douglas) for Fitzgerald (17, injured), P O’Shea (St Finbarr’s) for J O’Brien (40, injured).

Referee: B Coniry (Crosshaven).