Ruthless Midelton U21 hurlers show their class in second half against Ballincollig
Midleton's Evan McGrath with a one-handed pass from Ballincollig's Ronan Power during the Co-Op Superstores U21 A Hurling quarter-final at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh 4G. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
In the end, it was a comfortable victory for Midleton.
Two second-half goals in the span of six minutes giving them an 11-point lead by the start of the fourth quarter, and a margin that Ballincollig simply couldn’t come back from in their U21 A Hurling quarter-final at Páirc Uí Chaoimh’s 4G on Saturday.
The Muskerry champions had put it up to them in the first half, trailed by only four at the break, and had closed that gap to two by the 33rd minute. But Midleton’s third goal was timely, Conor Morley and Carthaigh Cronin working it to Evan McGrath, and he thundered home his second goal to put six between the teams, 3-13 to 1-13.
By the time Midleton struck their fourth goal, it was 4-16 to 1-14, Dave Cremin with a stunning finish to the top corner after McGrath’s delivery, leaving Cremin’s final tally at an astounding 1-5 from play, while his senior teammate McGrath ended with 2-3.
Even with the outcome a foregone conclusion, Midleton continued to fire in the final quarter. That fourth goal came in an eight-minute run where the Magpies scored 1-6 unanswered, their lead swelling to 4-20 to 1-14 with 13 minutes remaining.
Sub Eoin Dwyer and David O’Leary clipped two back for Ballincollig, but Midleton’s Senan Carroll – outstanding from the bench – hit three of his four points and assisted Daragh Egan for one.
It was yet another game where Mikey Finn starred, his 0-7 coming without a single miss as he mopped up everything from midfield and directly assisted five points across the hour.
Heading towards stoppage time, Midleton’s lead stood at 17 – 4-25 to 1-17 – though Ballincolllig did find a late consolation that efforts merited, David O’Leary finding Cian O’Connor for the goal in the 63rd minute.
It was certainly a statement win from the reigning champions, the sheer impact of Finn, Cremin and McGrath up front showing what they carry, while it was another week where Eoghan Fraser and Tadhg O’Leary Hayes delivered in defence.
The start was as fast-paced as you’d expect from the 4G, the first wide not hit until the ninth minute, when Ballincollig were 1-4 to 0-5 in front. The goal was superbly taken, David O’Leary picking out O’Connor, and he got by the challenges of Carthaigh Cronin and Sean McSharry to get in and bat home.
But that only stirred Midleton into action, Finn notching his first from play, before Matthew McSweeney, Cathal Beausang and Cremin all got in on the scoring to leave the teams level for the second time, 0-7 to 1-4.
It was then in the 12th minute that the Magpies raised their first green flag, Conor Morley setting up Cian Stack, who got by David O’Leary and ran towards goal. He lost possession just before striking, but managed to kick it beyond David Hurley, 1-7 to 1-4.
Conor Dalton answered with a white flag for Ballincollig in the 16th minute, after O’Connor had pressed Finn’s clearance and turned over possession before passing, but Midleton got their next goal from the following puck-out, Zach Smith going long to Evan McGrath who ran 40 metres before blasting across goal and into the far corner, 2-7 to 1-5.
Ballincollig were able to get the deficit back down to four by the break, Seán O’Neill – who was excellent up front – on target for the final play of the opening act, 2-11 to 1-10.
But Midleton blitzed their opponents in the second half to set up a repeat of last year’s semi-final against Newcestown.
E McGrath 2-3, D Cremin 1-5, M Finn 0-7 (0-6 f), C Stack 1-1, S Carroll 0-4, D Egan 0-3, M McSweeney, C Beausang 0-1 each.
C O’Connor 2-0, S O’Neill 0-5, C Dalton 0-3, J Dwyer, T Morgan, J Murray 0-2 each, D O’Leary, E Dwyer, P Kelly, T O’Connell 0-1 each.
Z Smith; S McSharry, T O’Leary-Hayes, C Lawton; M McSweeney, C Cronin, E Fraser; D Egan, M Finn (jc); C Beausang, E McGrath, C Stack; D Cremin (jc), C Morley, P Barrett.
D Scanlon for Beausang (HT), S Carroll for Barrett (37), N Coughlan for Morley (46), M Murphy for McSweeney (52), A Moloney for Stack (55).
D Hurley; R Power, B Dore, D Ward; K O’Leary, J Dwyer (c), D O’Leary; T Morgan, P Kelly; T O’Connell, C Dalton, C O’Connor; S O’Neill, C Buckley, J Murray.
C Power for Buckley (HT), E Dwyer for Murray, B O’Sullivan for O’Connell (both 45), T Murphy for Kelly (52).
N Fahy (Brian Dillons)
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