Liam Walsh masterclass sees Midleton sweep Ballinora aside in Premier 1 U16 HC semi-final
Midleton's Riain McCormack gets above Ballinora's Cormac Murphy during the Rebel Óg under 16 Premier 1 HC semi final at The Mardyke. Picture; Eddie O'Hare
Ten months on from scoring just 0-17 in an U15 semi-final loss to Ballincollig, Midleton returned to the Mardyke on Monday night with a point to prove against Ballinora in their Premier 1 U16 Hurling Championship semi-final clash.
They proved it in abundance.
Nine scores on the spin before Ballinora troubled the board, Midleton’s intent was crystal clear from throw-in.
When Ballinora did get off the mark in the 17th minute, it came in a pair. Denis O’Mahony with a superb effort, Billy Meighan with the next. They would not score two in a row again until the 53rd minute. By that stage, the scoreline read 4-22 to 1-7.
Liam Walsh got off the mark after five minutes for Midleton, and he could not be stopped. The Cork U16 finished with 1-12 – only six of those from placed balls – and lit up the ground with a display that was as ruthless as it was elegant.
But this was no one-man show. Their first five points were split between four forwards. John O’Sullivan was magnificent, Charlie McCarthy clinical, Ciarán Kelly electric. Their work rate and movement were a level above, their passing crisp, their shooting merciless.
Ballinora could never build momentum. By the time Cormac Murphy notched his side’s third point after 27 minutes, the Midleton lead was nine. That would swell to 14 by the break.
McCarthy’s thunderbolt goal helped stamp their authority. It came in the 29th minute, after neat interplay from Joshua Quill and Tadhg O’Dowd.
Ballinora flickered briefly after the restart – Meighan’s shot blocked down, Donagh Conway claiming the loose ball and firing home from an impossibly tight angle – but that only seemed to fuel Midleton’s hunger. Over the next 12 minutes they outscored Ballinora 1-5 to 0-1, O’Sullivan pouncing on McCarthy’s dropped shot to bury their second goal.
And still they came. Cue three more points on the bounce, followed up by two more green flags.
O’Sullivan took his tally to 1-5, then suppled Walsh for a thunderous goal from distance. Everything Walsh hit turned to gold.
O’Brien followed inside 60 seconds, winning a turnover and rifling into the top corner. By then, the 51st minute, Ballinora’s resistance was long broken, the margin unbridgeable.
And yet, for all Midleton’s dominance, Ballinora’s heads would not drop.
Their efforts thankless, maybe. But they never quit. Ballinora landed five of the last seven points, Alex Lehane and James O’Sullivan assisting Meighan and Cork U16 Cormac Murphy for neat efforts.
It was the latter who was able to rise to the Midleton challenge when that task seemed so impossible. They finished 23 points adrift, but this was a night when effort was met with a wall of black and white.
Finn Cahill lorded the defence, Alfie Hennessy grafted tirelessly in midfield, Riain McCormack superb in the full-back line. Midleton at their best.
Ballinora will be back next season with a point to prove. And with the hurlers they have, that point will be proven in abundance.
L Walsh 1-12 (0-5 f, 0-1 65), J O’Sullivan 1-5, C Kelly 0-4, C McCarthy 1-1, C O’Brien 1-0, A Molumby, R Nolan 0-1 each.
C Murphy 0-4 (0-1 f), D Conway 1-1, B Meighan, D O’Mahony (0-1 f) 0-2 each, B Hegarty 0-1.
W Stokes; P Spellman, B Dunlea, R McCormack; C Hogan, A Hennessy, J Quill; F Cahill, A Molumby; C McCarthy, C Kelly, L Walsh; J O’Sullivan, T O’Dowd, C O’Brien.
L O’Sullivan for Quill (45), R Nolan for O’Dowd (46), E Donovan for Hogan (48), J Cahill for Walsh (51), D Moloney for J O’Sullivan (53).
P McCoy; L Gaffney, J O’Sullivan, M Cremin; P Twohig, B Hegarty, F Murphy; A Lehane, D O’Mahony; D Conway, Cormac Murphy; Cathal Murphy; Cuan Murphy, B Meighan, O Kingston.
C Noonan for Twohig (HT), R O’Sullivan for Conway (40), P O’Mahony for F Murphy (52).
P O’Mahony (Kilbrittain)
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