U21AHC: Superb Shandrum take the title after brilliant performance against Midleton

Shandrum 1-20

Midleton 1-17

Shandrum started well in Sunday’s Co-op SuperStores Cork U21AHC final at the SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh 4G – and they finished even better.

An opening three-point salvo set the tone and the North Cork side, a mix of Newtownshandrum and Dromina, led Midleton by that margin at half-time, 0-13 to 0-10. While Shandrum had the first score of the second half, their opponents found momentum and Midleton had levelled at 0-14 each before Evan McGrath’s run set up Peter Barrett for the goal to give the Magpies the lead for the first time.

The general expectation was that the holders would power on from there but that reckoned without the character and work-rate of Shandrum.

A Turlough O’Neill free and a point from the hardworking Robert Troy gave them an immediate response – while Cathal Beausang replied to put Midleton 1-15 to 0-16 ahead, the game’s decisive score followed immediately.

When Cork U20 goalkeeper Daniel O’Connell launched a massive puck-out, his club and county colleague Johnny Murphy rose highest to catch it and then sent a booming finish high to the net. It restored the lead to Shandrum and they would not lose it again.

Chris Dunne, superb throughout, doubled the advantage with his fourth point of the game before sub JD Egan marked his arrival with a smart score.

While Conor Morley brought Midleton back to within two, there was no let-up from Shandrum: Murphy’s turnover led to him being fouled and O’Neill slotting over a free for his seventh; his eighth gave them a four-point lead as normal time expired.

Midleton pushed hard – sub Dara Scanlon’s good catch created a chance for Barrett, whose good shot was met by an even better save from O’Connell. Mikey Finn sent over his seventh point from the 65 that accrued to make it a one-score game.

Despite the pressure, Shandrum held out, with Murphy doing well to deny Scanlon. A late Midleton free inside the D gave them one final chance but O’Connell kept out Finn’s effort and the ball was ushered to safety. Simon Stokes’ final whistle brought scenes of green and gold joy.

Having thrown a curveball with a four-man full-forward line in their semi-final win over Valley Rovers, Shandrum repeated the trick from the outset and never trailed in the first half.

Though the early three-point burst was nullified by Midleton, Shandrum came again, with Dunne a vital outlet inside while Rory Troy, Bill Collins and Cork minor captain Bobby Carroll were superb in the half-back line – Collins’ block denied Cian Stack an early Midleton goal chance.

After O’Neill’s free made it 0-7 to 0-5, Eoin O’Mahony produced a brilliant point and then set up Dunne for his third. Stack’s Midleton point was only a brief interruption as Murphy moved Shandrum four ahead and Dunne’s catch then led to Jack Hogan making it 0-11 to 0-6 on 18 minutes.

Midleton improved in the latter part of the half, with Finn’s dead balls reducing the gap while Evan McGrath was only denied by an excellent O’Connell save.

Robert Troy’s marvellous score – emerging from a brilliant Shane O’Leary intervention at the other end – helped Shandrum to go in with the three-point advantage and O’Neill made it 0-14 to 0-10 on the restart.

Beausang was to the fore as Midleton wiped that out in quick fashion and then the goal looked to be a game-changer.

Instead, it was merely the signal for Shandrum to redouble their efforts.

Scorers for Shandrum: T O’Neill 0-8 (0-7 f), C Dunne 0-4, J Murphy 1-1, Robert Troy 0-3, E O’Mahony 0-2, J Hogan, JD Egan 0-1 each.

Midleton: M Finn 0-7 (0-4 f, 0-3 65), P Barrett 1-2, D Cremin, C Beausang 0-2 each, D Egan, E McGrath, C Stack, C Morley 0-1 each.

SHANDRUM: D O’Connell; T McCarthy, S O’Leary, D Ryan; B Carroll, B Collins, Rory Troy; J Hogan, Robert Troy; S Minihane, J Murphy, T O’Neill; E O’Mahony, L O’Mahony, C Dunne.

Subs: C Quinn for O’Mahony (half-time), JD Egan for Hogan (50), L Coughlan for O’Neill (58).

MIDLETON: Z Smith; S McSharry, T O’Leary-Hayes, C Lawton; E Fraser, C Cronin, M McSweeney; D Egan, M Finn; C Beausang, E McGrath, C Stack; D Cremin, C Morley, P Barrett.

Subs: M Murphy for McSharry (39), S Carroll for Stack (44), D Scanlon for Finn (50-52), Scanlon for Egan (53).

Referee: S Stokes (Tullylease).