East Cork U21 football: Midleton fire seven goals past St Colman's in dominant win
Midleton's Evan McGrath kicks clear under pressure from St Colman’s Mark O'Dwyer, during their East Cork U21 B Football Championship clash at Cloyne. Picture: David Keane.
A dominant first half set Midleton up to score an easy victory over St Colman’s, as the Magpies put seven goals past their opponents in the East Cork U21 B Football Championship.
After going out in Round 1 last year, the Magpies were a much-improved side in Cloyne on Saturday afternoon. They now advance to the quarterfinals where they’ll face another amalgamated side in St Colmcille’s.
As a contest, the game was over after 20 minutes. Midleton were outstanding, unrelenting in their pressure. They gave St Colman’s no room to breathe, with the Cloyne and Russell Rovers side not hitting a shot on target until the 25th minute.
St Colman’s were wasteful in possession and gave the ball away far too cheaply. It’s why the visitors were so dominant.
When Charlie O’Dwyer did finally score for Colman’s, that cut their deficit to 10 points, which remained the difference between the teams at half-time.
Colman’s needed a positive start to the second period but couldn’t muster more than a free from O’Dwyer. Midleton wing-back Cian Lambe responded with a white flag in the 37th minute. Then Vincent O’Neill’s side hit Colman’s for five goals in seven minutes.
The first through Tadhg Bohan, who made a brilliant run through the middle and finished with aplomb.
Great use of the solo and go from Odhran Dennigan saw him score their fourth in the 41st minute.
Then it was Seán McSharry’s turn. A minute later Eoin Higgins added another. That same minute Higgins goaled again. Three goals in two minutes.
Midleton were now 25 points up, 7-6 to 0-2.
The hosts got their third and final score in the 48th minute, as O’Dwyer kicked a superb two-pointer. Tadhg O’Leary Hayes, brother of former Cork senior Seán kicked a two-point score in reply, an outside of the boot effort.
While they netted five goals in the second period – the heavy lifting was done in the first. The two goals game changing.
The first after 11 minutes, as Lambe made a brilliant interception. He moved the ball to Dennigan, who passed to Dara Scanlon. The Midleton centre-forward gave a brilliant kickpass to O’Brien, who converted with ease.
The next goal was from Lambe – using the solo and go, he took on his man before burying it from close range.
By then it was long over with Colman’s still scoreless after 19 minutes and down by 11 points, but Midleton continued their ruthless display well into the second half.
The Magpies did so without making a single substitution, with tomorrow’s U21 C fixture against St Catherine’s in mind.
C O’Dwyer 0-4 (1 2pt score).
E Higgins 2-1, C O’Brien, S McSharry 1-2 each, C Lambe, O Dennigan 1-1 each, T Bohan 1-0, D Scanlon, T O’Leary Hayes (1 2pt score) 0-2 each.
D Crotty; J Cowhig, T Cronin, C Gleeson; R Cummins, T O’Regan (c), S O’Donoghue; L Fitzgerald, D Cummins; Y Hallahan, C Byrne, S O’Donovan; C O’Dwyer, M O’Dwyer, D Costine.
O Sim for O’Donoghue (15 inj), C Heavin for D Cummins (35, inj), E Treacy for Costine (42), R Masterson for R Cummins (45).
J Foley; S Cronin, A Moloney, M McSweeney; C Lambe, T O’Leary Hayes, D Egan; T Bohan, E McGrath (c); C Beausang, D Scanlon, S McSharry; O Dennigan, E Higgins, C O’Brien.
Pa O’Driscoll (Bride Rovers)
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