Premier 1 MHC: Midleton push on in the closing stages to see off St Colman's
Midleton's Cian Stack is tackled by St Colman's Rian O'Connell and Conor Gleeson during their Rebel Óg Premier 1 MHC clash at Clonmult Memorial Park. Picture: David Keane
While the final winning margin may suggest an easy stroll, Midleton had to work hard to get on top of St Colman’s in Wednesday’s Rebel Óg Premier 1 MHC opener at Clonmult Memorial Park.
Trailing by four points after an early brace of goals by the visitors, the Mapgies responded well and were four to the good themselves, 1-14 to 2-7, by half-time. However, a strong start to the second half, spearheaded by Adam Lee’s dead-ball accuracy, brought St Colman’s back to within touching distance.
They might have sensed an opportunity to down a Midleton side featuring four of the team that began last year’s semi-final defeat to Glen Rovers, but the hosts found an extra gear in the final quarter.
After Shane Murtagh’s 42nd-minute point left St Colman’s two behind, 1-18 to 2-13, the Magpies reeled off an unanswered 2-5 to put the outcome beyond doubt. The first of those goals arrived after Shane O’Mahony, effective all night in attack, won a Peadar Egan delivery and fed Senan Carroll, who found the net for the second time, having also goaled in the first half.
With Peter Barrett punishing most St Colman’s indiscretions by nailing frees and Midleton eased clear and a third goal arrived as O’Mahony was again the creator, setting up sub Liam Walsh from Nicky Coughlan’s excellent ball in. At the death, Coughlan capped a fine display as he profited from good work by Barrett to raise a fourth green flag.
Sixteen points in it at the end was rough justice on a Colman’s side that had battled well and taken the game to Midleton. Trailing by 0-6 to 0-3 after the opening ten minutes, the Cloyne/Russell Rovers combination brought the game to life as Shane Murtagh did well to get a pass away despite losing his footing and Darragh Heavin – earlier in the day named in the national minor hurling team of the year – crashed a shot to the net.
They had the lead through Lee, who might have gone for goal himself, but they didn’t have long to wait as Heavin turned provider for Alex Noble to show lovely control before firing another shot home.
It left them 2-4 to 0-6 in front but Midleton responded well, with Braiden Dunlea and Cian Lawton very good in defence. They were back in front as Lawton’s powerful run created an opening for Carroll to carry the ball on before producing a super finish for a goal, 1-9 to 2-4, and they built the lead from there to half-time.
On the restart, Colman’s pressed again and were rewarded, with Heavin landing a nice score while Rian O’Connell was to the fore as well. Two points was close as they would come, though, and Midleton found an extra gear in the latter stages.
Next up for Midleton in a fortnight is another local derby, away to Youghal, while St Colman's host Inniscarra the same night.
P Barrett 0-10 (0-8 f, 0-1 65), S Carroll 2-2, N Coughlan 1-3, S O’Mahony 0-4, L Walsh 1-0, C Stack 0-2, J Foley, S Crowley, C Lawton, J Hogan 0-1 each.
A Lee 0-10 (0-6 f), D Heavin 1-2, A Noble 1-0, D Cummins, S Murtagh 0-1 each.
C Finn; P Egan, L Stewart, B Dunlea; M Murphy, C Lawton, D Cronin; S Crowley, N Coughlan; J Foley, S Carroll, J Hogan; C Stack, P Barrett, S O’Mahony.
L Walsh for Foley (42), A Hennessy for Crowley, R O’Driscoll for B Dunlea (both 58), S Dunlea for O’Mahony, D Donovan for Carroll (both 60).
C Williams; C Heavin, T Cronin, C Gleeson; D Cahill, R O’Connell, L Fitzgerald; D Cummins, A Noble; A Lee, E Millerick, D Sheehan; D Walsh, S Murtagh, D Heavin.
Y Hallahan for Millerick (half-time), P Ahern for Cummins (41), D Collins for Walsh (47), C O’Brien for Sheehan (51), K Archer for Cronin (53, injured).
T O’Connor.
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