Premier SHC final: Late Ger Fitzgerald and Darragh McCarthy in forefront of Midleton's minds ahead of Sunday

Midleton go into Sunday’s Co-Op SuperStores Premier SHC final against Sarsfields knowing they can mix it up any which way.

The Magpies have shown different characteristics this season, but in the last two games, they have dug deep, very deep, to keep their championship aspirations firmly alive.

On both occasions against Glen Rovers and Blackrock, they looked in real trouble, but came good to prevail.

Cork senior hurler Conor Lehane, who will miss this weekend's game due to injury, got the winning score from a long-range point, which was a free, against Blackrock two weeks ago. 

The forward can’t put his finger on why Midleton have been slow starters of late. It has underlined their quality though with strong finishes.

“Ideally, you don’t always want to be coming back in the game, but it’s obviously great for confidence-wise and you know kind of mentally, if things are going against you, you can keep your head and play it out.

“So, that’s always good, but starting slow in the last two games, the other side of the coin, you want to understand why that’s happening and then try and improve on that itself.

“The lads have been incredible, the strength of the panel and when you see the lads that are coming on, stepping up to the plate when it was needed.

“The way hurling is nowadays, the panel wins the game. It’s not the first 15 like it used to be, and we’re very, very fortunate for the players we have.” 

Lehane feels Midleton are in a great place for this final in what is a repeat of the 2023 decider, a game Sarsfields won narrowly. 

“Mentally, yeah, definitely, but I felt we were in a good place in 2023,” he says.

“We only lost by two points in the end, so when a game is that close, it’s kind of hard to figure out where you went right or wrong.

“You just want to make sure that you feel that you’re in a better place and that the experience will stand to us the next day.

“When you see fellas putting their heads down and driving on, no matter what situation they’re in, it gives you huge confidence in the team itself, it brings other fellas on, although some fellas may not be realising it.” 

The two-week gap between the semi-final and final is something Midleton are used to at this stage.

“If you’re doing anything too drastic at this stage, there’s something wrong. From our point of view, it’s not to overdo or underdo anything.

“You just keep the same routine as you have been doing throughout the year. It’s obviously a final, so it’s going to be a bit more anxious.

“Our actual routine in preparing for it doesn’t change. I think the realisation of what the game means is going to happen naturally, but your approach should remain the same and just kind of do things here and there that you need to improve on or work on.

“Your approach is going to change every year, really, depending on your experience and what has happened the previous year or the last couple of years.” 

It would be fitting for Midleton to win the championship considering the sadness they endured in March when they lost club men Ger Fitzgerald and Darragh McCarthy.

“They were a huge part of the club. Two great people. It’s always going to be on your minds, no matter what, and rightly so, like, they’re in our thoughts.

“They’re always going to be a part of Midleton in every game. There’s a memory of them every time you go out.

“I think that’s really important, for our community and for our club, regardless of what happens in the championship.” Lehane ended.