Three U21 titles in a row for Midleton, but job's not done yet

A third straight East Cork U21 A title for Midleton, through to the county section where they’ll face Ballincollig, who defeated Inniscarra in the Muskerry decider.

For Midleton manager Liam O’Keeffe, the job is far from done. The aim is to win the county title, and retain the title for another season.

“We've played a couple of practice matches before we played Carrigtwohill,” he said, after the victory over Bride Rovers. 

We've had two good games now, we don't fear anyone in the county, but we respect every team.

“There's a couple of strong teams in it, our aim is to win a county championship again, and we've completed three in a row, I'd say we were the last club to do it.” 

He’s right, too. Midleton were the last to pull it off, wins in 2011, 2012 and 2013, a run that ended Sarsfields' tilt at four-in-a-row. But there is the one thing that has evaded Midleton in the last three years; the Premier Senior crown.

“We’d a bit of disappointment after the senior, but there was a lot of leadership shown from the senior lads, and especially minors, and we all rode in together.” 

Among those who’ve led from the front, one name keeps surfacing – Mikey Finn.

He was imperious again here, just as he’d been in the semi-final against Carrigtwohill, plenty of scores, including a peach directly from a sideline cut – but his turnovers, passes, and tackling proved much more crucial here.

UNBELIEVABLE

“Unbelievable,” O’Keeffe said. “He's been great since he came back from the senior team with him, and he's joint-captain with Dave, I thought they've led this group very well.

“They've led the group, and not forgetting even McGrath and these fellas. They're just terrific lads to work with, and Mikey, every time Mikey goes out, he answers it on the field, and we can't ask for any more than that.

“I changed it around with the management team, I brought in some past ex-players, they've worked a treat.

“Paudie [O’Shea], Aidan [Ryan] there, Cillian Hurley. The two boys were hurling up to this year, and Paudie’s been involved as well, so I'm very happy with it. And we’ll drive it on now for Ballincollig.” 

Still, beneath the satisfaction there was a quiet poignancy. They beat Bride Rovers last year with Darragh McCarthy, but his loss in March this year is one that hit, and still hits, hard.

“It's fitting for Darragh,” O’Keeffe said. “I didn't really work with Darragh before, but by all accounts the lads were telling me he was a lovely lad, it was tragic circumstances.”