Cork PSHC: Tommy O'Connell stars as Midleton pip Charleville to top spot in Group 3

Midleton 1-23 Charleville 1-14 

The same group stage pairing as last year’s first round, the same margin of victory for Midleton here at Castletownroche on Sunday evening, but there was a key difference. The stakes were much higher for Midleton, and as it turned out, for Charleville too.

And, crucially, this was Midleton at their best so far in the Co-Op Superstores Cork Premier Senior Hurling Championship – though they were made work three-quarters of the way by Charleville.

With the score 1-15 to 1-12 in favour of the Magpies and 47 minutes elapsed, Charleville sought the point to cut that to two, only for Tommy O’Connell to fling himself into the line. Block, turnover, free drawn. Conor Lehane pointed, and the Magpies ignited.

Seven without reply, five from Lehane, including one plucked off a turnover from Alan Dennehy. Charleville would not score again until the hour mark, by which point the contest was gone.

For long stretches, though, they had their opponents stretched. Midleton led by seven on 32 minutes; five later, it was down to two. A Fitzgibbon effort punished Brion Saunderson’s stray pass, and within sixty seconds Cathal O’Carroll tore through the middle, popped to Tim Hawe, who whipped to the net, 1-12 to 1-9.

Cue the response. Cormac Beausang spun from a tackle, nailed an acute one, and Midleton steadied. White and McDermott pushed the gap back to five before the decisive final kick.

The first half had been a standoff until Alex Quirke found a Magpie major.

Seán O’Meara recovered White’s wayward handpass, looked to slot over, only for Conor Reynolds to reach high and get the save. But he couldn’t gather control, and Quirke slipped in to toe-poke the sliotar home. His 1-2 helped open a seven-point cushion, the gap a Fitzgibbon free trimmed to six by half-time, 1-11 to 0-8.

The match-ups framed much of the evening. Charleville won the toss, electing to play against the breeze. A breeze that unfortunately died down in the second half.

Both teams employed sweepers, Tommy O’Connell taking on the duties for Midleton, and excelling. Ball after ball, ruck after ruck, he was everywhere.

Charleville shared the mopping duties, while Jack Buckley stuck to Conor Lehane, and Ciarmhac Smyth marked Darragh Fitzgibbon at the other end. The two Cork seniors wouldn’t be kept quiet for long, and both finished with 0-6 from play.

Charleville’s freshly injected attacking threats, Zack Biggane and Seán Bresnan, were marshalled well by Cormac Walsh and Tadhg O’Leary Hayes respectively.

Charleville’s opening quarter was full of defiance, their work rate forcing turnovers, Fitzgibbon clipping over after Darren Casey’s block on Smyth a highlight. But once Quirke struck, Midleton had the surge and in the final quarter they found the separation.

A quarter-final with Glen Rovers awaits Midleton. While Charleville, for all they’ve got right this season, now take on the daunting task of Sarsfields.

Scorers for Midleton: C Lehane 0-10 (0-4 f), A Quirke 1-2, C Beausang, M Finn, K McDermott, P White 0-2 each, S O’Meara, D Cremin, L O’Farrell 0-1 each.

Scorers for Charleville: D Fitzgibbon 0-11 (0-5 f), T Hawe 1-0, D Forde 0-2, G Kelleher 0-1.

MIDLETON: B Saunderson; L Dineen, E Moloney, T O’Connell; C Smyth, T O’Leary Hayes, R O’Regan; S O’Meara, M Finn; C Beausang, C Lehane, K McDermott; P White, A Quirke, C Walsh.

Subs: D Cremin for Quirke (48), L O’Farrell for White (51), P Connaughton for McDermott (59), Quirke for Dineen (60+2 temp)

CHARLEVILLE: C Reynolds; D Butler, J Meade, A Dennehy; F Cagney, J Buckley, C O’Carroll; D Casey, J Callaghan; Z Biggane, S Bresnan, D Fitzgibbon; D Forde, D O’Flynn, G Kelleher.

Subs: T Hawe for Kelleher (HT), C Buckley for Bresnan (42), O O’Connell for Forde, A Cagney for O’Flynn (both 54).

Referee: C Walsh (Nemo Rangers)