Premier 1 MHC: Sarsfields superb as they earn victory over Midleton
Sarsfields captain Harry Cogan scores a point in Monday's Rebel Óg Premier 1 MHC final against Midleton at Páirc Uí Rinn. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
The final whistle at Páirc Uí Rinn on Monday confirmed Sarsfields’ win over Midleton, making them Rebel Óg Premier 1 MHC winners, bringing cheers - and poignant memories.
A year ago, a Sarsfields team with the late Ray Ryan among its mentors fell to Glen Rovers by a point in the final. This time, they did not have the club legend on the sideline but they carried his presence and the performance honoured his memory.
"Ray was a leader and we all looked up to him so much," said captain Harry Cogan in his speech.
Leading by 0-13 to 1-6 at half-time having augmented their supremacy in added time, Sars made that five through a great Tom Huggins point. While that was answered by Midleton’s Cian Stack with an effort just as good and the Magpies had two of the next three, they would never get closer than the half-time margin.
A pair of frees from Adam Dunlea – he finished with ten points in total – gave Sars breathing space and they almost had a goal at the three-quarter mark – sub Adam Leahy found Finn O’Connor, who unleashed a good shot only for the goalkeeper – his namesake in reverse, Conor Finn – to save well.
Even so, Sars kept the play alive and the impressive Josh McNamara pointed before Dunlea opened up a seven-point lead after Midleton had lost Lochlann Stewart to a harsh red card. In the closing stages, Sars centre-back Rory Higgins twice produced lovely long passes leading to points for O’Connor and Dunlea while the latter drew another save from Finn, who could be proud of his clean sheet, albeit one coupled with defeat.
With a superb defence led by Tom O’Flynn ensuring that Midleton couldn’t make inroads, Sars’ superiority couldn’t be denied.
Dunlea and Huggins had been to the fore as the Riverstown side had the first four points but, even at that stage, their play was pock-marked with avoidable wides – the opening half brought 12 in total.
Nicky Coughlan was to the fore as Midleton slowly ate into the deficit, and a free from halfway by captain Peter Barrett on 14 minutes left them 0-6 to 0-4 behind. Just after the quarter-hour, they had moved ahead – Coughlan’s delivery broken inside by Shane O’Mahony, allowing Cian Stack to pounce with a pulled shot to the net.
It was the briefest of leads: Dunlea’s 65 tied the game with his third point and his fourth, from Eoin Considine’s long delivery, had them back in front.
Rory Higgins and Cullen Condon combined for Josh McNamara to make it 0-9 to 1-4 before Cogan’s ball in was cleared only as far as the ever-lively Huggins for his third.
The Sars wides tally moved in tandem with the scoreboard, though, reaching double figures by the 23rd minute, and a pair of Barrett frees had Midleton back to within one as injury time began.
The additional period was fruitful for Sars – two Dunlea frees followed by a Cogan run and point sending them in leading by four. The advantage never fell below that as their composed second-half display saw them push further ahead.
A Dunlea 0-10 (0-6 f, 0-1 65), T Huggins 0-4, F O’Connor, J McNamara 0-2 each, H Cogan, C Galvin, C Condon 0-1 each.
P Barrett 0-5f, C Stack 1-2, C Lawton, J Hogan, F Cahill, N Coughlan 0-1 each.
F O’Donovan; T O’Flynn, K Murphy, J Tierney; E Considine, R Higgins, M Hurley; S Sheehan, J McNamara; H Cogan, A Dunlea, C Condon; T Huggins, C Galvin, F O’Connor.
A Leahy for Galvin (43), B O’Mahony for Huggins (58), D Ryan for O’Connor (60+2).
C Finn; E Ahern, L Stewart, B Dunlea; F Cahill, M McSweeney, M Murphy; S Crowley, C Lawton; J Hogan, N Coughlan, J Foley; P Barrett, C Stack, F Cahill.
S Carroll for Foley (28, injured), L Walsh for O’Mahony (50), P Egan for Murphy (54), R O’Driscoll for Dunlea (60), D Donovan for Lawton (60+2).
D Daly (Brian Dillons).
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