RedFM Hurling League: Mikey Finn expects Midleton to benefit from Conor Lehane's presence

Once again, Midleton will hope that Cork’s loss is their gain.

While there is a sense of disappointment that Conor Lehane is no longer part of the county panel, it means that the Magpies will have greater access to the veteran attacker. The last time that happened was in 2021, when he absent from the county squad and inspired the east Cork club to win the SHC title.

Mikey Finn is one of those who is emerging as a leader for Midleton and he hopes that Lehane’s presence will act as a lift for everyone.

“It's great to have Conor back around this year,” he says.

“You saw in 2021 how beneficial it was to have him around for the whole year. He's a huge character around the group and everyone's just going to be learning off him really for the year.”

Midleton begin their RedFM Hurling League Division 1 campaign this weekend, taking on Fr O’Neill’s on Sunday morning.

There is a change on the sidelines this year, with Micheál Keohane stepping down after a managerial reign that included two county final appearances.

However, an alteration doesn’t equate to upheaval as new manager Pádraig O’Shea has been a senior selector and helped a Midleton U21 team including Finn to the last two county finals, winning in 2024.

“He'll be a big addition and all of the boys know him already,” Finn says.

“We know what Paddy brings and we know what he likes and Frank Flannery is back on board as coach as well, a big boost this year.

“He’s excellent and we got on very well last year with him. We’re delighted he's back on board now.”

Back in the top flight of the league this year following promotion from Division 2, Finn feels Midleton will benefit from exposure to stronger opposition.

“I suppose, with playing Division 1, you're playing all the top teams in Cork and you're getting good games in before the championship,” he says, “so that was a massive boost for us to get back up there.

“We're really looking forward now to the league kicking off and getting game-time into the younger lads as well.

“It’s definitely a big addition this year to be back in Division 1. It was ourselves and Killeagh and it could have been Erin’s Own very easily – they actually beat us previously in the league and then Killeagh beat us in the last match to get promotion and get into the final but we were happy to come out on top against them in the final.”

It was the first of two finals they reached in 2025, with the league momentum carrying them into the Co-op SuperStores Premier SHC.

Wins over Newtownshandrum and Charleville in the group stage as well as a draw with Newcestown were followed with victories against Glen Rovers and Blackrock in the knockout stage.

That set up a second final meeting with Sarsfields in three seasons – as well as a semi-final in between – but the absence of the injured Lehane and Eoin Moloney hampered them.

Nevertheless, Finn feels there are far more positives than negatives to be taken.

“Definitely, we're really close,” he says.

“We lost a county final to Sars two or three years ago, and then the following year a semi-final against Sars and they were both one- and two-point defeats, so we're definitely not far away at all.

“We're not doing anything wrong, so, it's just about getting over the line really on the day, as anything can happen really on the day.

“Then last year, obviously, two boys with big losses, but we know ourselves we didn't live up to the expectation of the final at all. We didn't play to our best, but it’s a lesson to be taken.

“We’ll put the head down again this year and try to get over the line.”