Harty Cup: Cormac Deane goals help Midleton CBS fight off High School Clonmel challenge
Midleton CBS’s Cormac Deane steals possession during the Dr Harty Cup hurling match between CBS High School Clonmel and Midleton CBS at Cappoquin. Picture Chani Anderson.
Midleton CBS are still standing in the Harty Cup after a tricky four-point win in Cappoquin on Wednesday afternoon. The outcome means their final group outing against De La Salle is crucial – Midleton need a result, while CBS High School Clonmel are now eliminated following defeat.
Midleton had to mind their step. Twice they looked like they might pull clear. Twice Clonmel reeled them back in.
Even after two near replica goals from Cormac Deane early in the second half – Senan Carroll twice picking him out and Deane striking into the bottom and top corners from the same angle – the Tipp side refused to fold.
Those strikes had Midleton five up on 34 minutes, but nine minutes later, the gap was down to one, Aaron Cagney punishing every infringement from frees and Conall Morrisson landing another. Matthew McSweeney and Fionn Daly moved Midleton three clear again, but Clonmel kept coming, and they were level for the sixth time in the 52nd minute.
Only in the closing stretch were Midleton allowed to breathe. Daly was teed up by Tom A Walsh for a point, before Deane turned provider for the third and final major, finding sub Jude Devoy for an excellent finish. McSweeney added his second point after another Deane assist, 3-14 to 0-18 with six to go.
Mikey McGuire and Cagney got it down to three again in the final stages, but Midleton held firm – Devoy lively off the bench as he drove over the insurance point at the death.
Midleton led early and nearly found a first half goal, Evan Connolly, Cormac Deane linking up to send Walsh through, but his effort was parried by High School ‘keeper Conor Walsh.
Conall Morrisson and Aaron Cagney briefly nudged Clonmel in front, but Midleton reeled off four in a row, Colm Garde teeing up Deane, Daly landing two frees, and midfielders Alfie Hennessy and Walsh setting Sam Ring up for a white flag, 0-7 to 0-4 after 18 minutes.
It was a first half largely reliant on placed balls, Midleton leading for the majority of it, Mikey McGuire and Cagney working High School back into it, until two frees from Cagney drew parity at 0-8 apiece after 27 minutes.
Garde, excellent on his return from injury, set up Walsh for a point, Cagney and Bríain Morrisson responded in kind for Clonmel, before a free each from Fionn Daly and Cagney left it 0-10 each at the interval.
Deane’s goals on the resumption looked the decisive swing, but Midleton still had work to do, Devoy’s late strike key confirming the outcome in the 54th minute.
C Deane 2-2, F Daly 0-7 (0-6 f), J Devoy 1-1, M McSweeney 0-2, Tom A Walsh, S Ring, E Connolly 0-1 each.
A Cagney 0-14 (0-12 f, 0-1 65), C Morrisson 0-3, M McGuire 0-2, B Morrisson 0-1.
T C Walsh (Aghada); Darragh Heavin (St Colman’s), R O’Connell (Fr O’Neill’s), F Cahill (Midleton); S Carroll (Midleton), C Garde (Lisgoold), M McSweeney (Midleton); T A Walsh (Carrigtwohill) (jc), A Hennessy (Midleton); F Daly (Kiltha Óg), C Deane (Killeagh), E Connolly (Kiltha Óg); S Ring (Carrigtwohill), C Stack (Midleton (jc), D Murphy (Lisgoold).
J Devoy (Aghada) for D Murphy (50), F Connaughton (Kiltha Óg) for Stack (59).
C Walsh; J Lyons, A Ryan, B Landers; L Hannigan, P Spelman (jc), C Roche; H Lawlor, B Roche; B Morrisson, M McGuire, A Cagney (jc); F Napier, J Yousif, C Morrisson.
E Condon for Landers (41), B Fuller for Roche (59).
T Mansfield (Affane Cappoquin, Waterford)
App?
