Conor Lehane returns from injury as Midleton push on in second half against Fr O'Neill's
Fr O’Neill’s Darragh Sexton and Midleton’s Sean O'Sullivan under the dropping sliotar. Picture: Chani Anderson
A strong second-half from Midleton ensured their return to the RedFM Division 1 HL was a winning one as they saw a resilient Fr O’Neill’s at the new Midleton GAA Town Park facility.
On a splendid pitch that was hosting its first major game, the large attendance were treated to a wonderful spectacle.
Playing with the aid of a strong breeze, O’Neill’s looked the better side in the opening exchanges as they looked more up for battle. Midleton were standing off too much early on and they forged an early lead from the stick of the outstanding Kevin O’Sullivan.
A classy four-man move saw the energetic Tadgh O’Donoghue-Brosnan split the posts and the visitors' running was reaping a reward. The gap was three points after nine minutes as Midleton looked flat.
Star man Conor Lehane got them up and running and they improved across the opening quarter, with the sides tied at 0-5 apiece midway through the half.
Former Cork U20 Mikey Finn began getting more on the ball but coughing up some soft frees saw them again trail by three. O’Sullivan was certainly the go-to man for O’Neill’s and he clipped eight points in the first half.
Midleton were almost caught napping coming up to the break as a high ball into the square fell into the path of Peter Hassett but Cork panellist Brion Saunderson parried a thunderous shot to safety with Fr O’Neill’s going in at the break up 0-12 to 0-10.
On the resumption, O’Sullivan split the posts with another slick strike that gave the Ballymacoda outfit the perfect start. Lehane, who is returning from injury, was called ashore early in the second half with 0-3 to his name in a good workout.
Finn took over the free-taking and raised a white flag followed by a sublime Pa White effort to level after 40 minutes. Although Fr O’Neill’s responded with O’Sullivan’s 11th point, they struggled to contain Midleton in the closing quarter.
The big difference was Midleton brought more power and physicality in this period and with O’Sullivan only adding one more point, it was evident O’Neill’s had run out of gas. The introduction of Conor Morley brought pace and energy to the Magpies' attack as he immediately chipped in with consecutive points.
Right at the death, Morley showed real class when turning with pace but his flicked shot over the O’Neill’s keeper came back off the crossbar. Despite both teams being understrength, it was an entertaining outing with Midleton’s class ensuring they secured maximum points.
M Finn 0-9 (0-6 f), C Lehane 0-3 (0-2 f), D Cremin, C Morley, A Mulcahy 0-2 each, K McDermott, C Beausang, P White 0-1 each.
K O’Sullivan 0-12 (0-9 f), T O’Donoghue-Brosnan 0-2, P Hassett 0-1.
B Saunderson; S Smyth, T O’Leary Hayes, L Dineen; A Mulcahy, K Burke, S O’Sullivan; M Finn, K McDermott; R O'Regan, E McGrath, C Walsh; D Cremin, C Lehane, P White.
C Beausang for K McDermott (h-t), C Stack for C Lehane (35), C Smyth for K Burke (48), C Morley for P White (49).
J Swayne; M Millerick, O Steel, M O’Neill; R Kenneally, D Harrington, D O’Neill; J Millerick, S O’Riordan; P Hassett, K O’Sullivan, D Sexton; T O’Donoghue-Brosnan, M Wall, R Lowney.
P Steel for D Sexton (49), K Lowney for D O’Neill (50).
Simon Stokes (Tullylease).
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