RedFM Hurling League: Pa White scores a hat-trick as Midleton see off Killeagh

Killeagh 1-10

Midleton 5-19

A hat-trick of goals from Pa White helped Midleton to a third straight RedFM Hurling League Division 1 victory as the formlines held true at Killeagh on Thursday night.

With two wins already claimed, the Magpies rarely looked as if they would be denied making it three from three against a home side that had already suffered a pair of defeats.

While a free from Ryan McCarthy and a point from Andrew Leahy did have Killeagh in an early 0-2 to 0-1 lead, White’s first goal – created by Alex Quirke after a good puckout win – put the visitors in front and they pushed on impressively from there.

Mikey Finn’s free to make it 1-8 to 0-3 on 22 minutes marked the first instance of a Midleton player scoring twice and that was followed by the second goal. Seán O’Sulivan, excellent in defence throughout, sent a good ball to White, who fed Quirke and he in turn played in Paul Connaughton for a good finished.

Though McCarthy replied for Killeagh, who had lost centre-back Gary Leahy to injury in the game’s opening stages, Midleton struck again as Connaughton set up Ross O’Regan for the third goal and they retired with a 3-10 to 0-4 advantage.

Finn had his fourth point on the restart before Killeagh had some cheer as Fionn Brennan’s pass allowed David Buckley to cleverly create space before shooting to the net. However, Midleton immediately replied in kind, with Evan McGrath’s long delivery well won by the influential Quirke, whose handpass allowed White to double home.

Points followed from Finn (two) and Conor Morley to leave it 4-14 to 1-4 and, from the puckout after the latter, White did well to turn over possession and score his third and Midleton’s fifth goal.

Twenty minutes remained at that stage but the life seeped out of the game thereafter, with McCarthy and Finn exchanging points from dead balls. Midleton might have had a sixth goal at the death after more fine work from Quirke created a chance for sub Cathal Beausang but goalkeeper Fionn Murphy did well to deny him.

Scorers for Killeagh: R McCarthy 0-8 f, D Buckley 1-0, A Leahy, P O’Brien 0-1 each.

Midleton: P White 3-1, M Finn 0-10 (0-7 f, 0-1 65), R O’Regan 1-1, P Connaughton 1-0, C Stack, C Morley 0-2 each, E McGrath, E McCarthy, A Mulcahy 0-1 each.

KILLEAGH: F Murphy; K Kelly-Budds, G Wallace Walsh, J Fogarty; E Lane, G Leahy, S Long; Ciarán Leahy, M Fitzgerald; R McCarthy, P O’Brien, F Brennan; Colm Leahy, A Leahy, D Buckley.

Subs: J Coleman for G Leahy (6, injured), J Ogbebor for Ciarán Leahy (half-time), E Keniry for Long (40), S Walsh for Brennan, P Mackey for Buckley (both 50).

MIDLETON: B Rossiter; S O’Sullivan, A Fay, C Cronin; E McGrath, T O’Leary Hayes, E McCarthy; M Finn, A Mulcahy; R O’Regan, A Quirke, C Morley; C Stack, P White, P Connaughton.

Subs: C Gunning for Cronin (38), N Coughlan for Morley, E Fraser for McCarthy (both 42), J Hogan for Mulcahy, C Beausang for Stack (both 50), T Dunlea for McGrath (53), D Egan for Finn, C Crowley for Fay, D Scanlon for Connaughton (all 55).

Referee: B Sweeney (Erin’s Own).