Dr Harty Cup: Midleton cruise to top spot with win over De La Salle

Midleton CBS 2-14

De La Salle College, Waterford 0-12

Midleton secured top spot in Group 2 of the TUS Dr Harty Cup as they led all through against De La Salle College at Fethard Town Park on Wednesday afternoon.

Playing with the strong wind in the opening half, Midleton got on top quickly, but it wasn’t until Sam Ring touched an Alfie Hennessey delivery to the net approaching half-time that a steady lead became a commanding one.

After the break, they played a mature game into the gale, never allowing De La Salle - whose qualification for the knockout stages had been assured beforehand - an avenue back into contention. However, the Waterford city school will rue a wastefulness in front of goal that topped out at 19 wides by the end.

Midleton had the opening three points, with goalkeeper Tom C Walsh on target from open play but, while De La Salle got off the mark with a pair of Eoin Burke frees and then Ollie Fives responded to a nice Cian Stack effort, it was as close as they would come all match.

A Walsh point direct from a puckout demonstrated the strength of the elements but Midleton moved the ball smartly too, like a score from wing-back Senan Carroll, set up by Matthew McSweeney and Finn Cahill.

Another from play by goalkeeper Walsh, and one from his namesake Tom A Walsh at midfield, who impressed throughout, made it 0-9 to 0-4 and they were given a massive boost heading in at the break thanks to Ring’s brilliant technique in diverting the ball home for an eight-point advantage.

In the opening half, De La Salle had played with a sweeper and a third midfielder in a bid to soak up the Midleton pressure; they went more conventional for the second period while Midleton resisted the urge to sit too deep. What did do was swap Tom A Walsh with centre-back Colm Garde and the latter set the tone with a series of surging runs, either leading to frees converted by Fionn Daly or points from the likes of Evan Connolly.

While Burke continued to be reliable from frees for De La Salle, they were never able to make inroads into the growing deficit.

The lead was 1-14 to 1-10 by the 55th minute when Dean Murphy forced a turnover close to the De La Salle goal before being fouled for a penalty. Daly did the needful from the 20m line to make sure of the win.

Scorers for Midleton CBS: F Daly 1-6 (0-4 f), Tom C Walsh 0-3 (0-1 puckout), S Ring 1-0, C Garde, C Stack, S Carroll, Tom A Walsh, E Connolly 0-1 each.

De La Salle: E Burke 0-6 (0-4 f), S Power 0-2, O Fives, C O’Callaghan, M Moloney, J Walsh 0-1 each.

MIDLETON CBS: Tom C Walsh (Aghada); D Heavin (St Colman’s), R O’Connell (Fr O’Neill’s), F Cahill (Midleton); S Carroll (Midleton), C Garde (Lisgoold), M McSweeney (Midleton); Tom A Walsh (Carrigtwohill), A Hennessey (Midleton); F Daly (Kiltha Óg), C Stack (Midleton), E Connolly (Kiltha Óg); S Ring (Carrigtwohill), C Deane (Killeagh), J Devoy (Aghada).

Subs: D Murphy (Lisgoold) for Devoy (45), J Coleman (Lisgoold) for Daly (59), B Cooney (Kiltha Óg) for Hennessey (60+1).

DE LA SALLE: J Comerford (Ballygunner) ; D Hearne (Roanmore), D Keane (De La Salle), A Power (Ballygunner); C O’Callaghan (De La Salle), C Power (De La Salle), J Power (Ballygunner); S Power (De La Salle), C O’Brien (Passage East); D Doyle (De La Salle), E O’Reilly (Ballygunner), D Ryan (Roanmore); E Burke (Roanmore), O Fives (Ballygunner), R Ryan (De La Salle).

Subs: S Kavanagh (Ballyhogue) for Fives (26, injured), M Moloney (Ballygunner) for T Ryan, J Walsh (Mount Sion) for O’Brien (both 37), R Crowley (Ballygunner) for Hearne (43), A Mills (Ballygunner) for D Ryan (50).

Referee: T Loughnane (Tipperary).