RedFM Hurling League: Midleton battle back strongly to make it four from four
Alex Quirke of Midleton tries to get past Glen Rovers' Eoghan Varian during Tuesday's RedFM Hurling League Division 1 game at the Glen Field. Picture: Jim Coughlan
Midleton secured a fourth straight win in Division 1 of the RedFM Hurling League as they effected a fine turnaround at the Glen Field on Tuesday night.
When the Glen’s Dean Brosnan rounded off a nice move to get his third point of the game in the 30th minute, it put the home side – who had lost two of their opening three games – 0-11 to 0-6 in front.
From there, however, Midleton outscored their opponents by 0-9 to 0-2; such a change in affairs might suggest a strong wind but, while there was no shortage of rain, it was falling softly and vertically.
After Brosnan’s score, enough time remained in the first half for Midleton to erode the deficit as Conor Lehane contributed two of an eight-point total and then Cian Stack did well before midfielder Killian McDermott landed his third.
Leading by 0-11 to 0-9 at the break, the Glen could have forged further ahead on the restart but didn’t take advantage and Midleton took over. McDermott continued to influence the game as Ross O’Regan assisted his fourth and then an important intervention by corner-back Thomas Dunlea – one of a number of big plays by him – led to a counter-attack that ended with Lehane levelling.
The visitors had the lead when Lehane converted a free following a foul on Stack and then Mikey Finn was instrumental in another breakaway, allowing Pa White to make it 0-13 to 0-11 on the three-quarter mark.
Though the Glen’s scoring drought was ended with a free from centre-back Brian Moylan, who was their best performer, it did not signal a turnaround in momentum and Lehane soon restored Midleton’s two-point lead. It might even have become five as they worked a half-chance of a goal but, following a scramble, Glen goalkeeper Cathal Hickey was able to get the ball away safely.
In injury time, Conor McCarthy assisted Adam O’Donovan for a point to reduce the Glen’s deficit to just a point but again Lehane replied, scoring a free having been fouled.
It meant that, when the Glen won a free in the 63rd minute and it was brought forward for dissent, Moylan’s only option was to go for goal.
However, a Midleton defence that had worked tirelessly to limit the likelihood of a green flag again stood firm and they held out to ensure they cannot be shaken from top spot regardless of other results this week.
Pádraig O’Shea’s side had to work to achieve such an outcome as they never led in a first half where the Glen were bright. After the first eight points were shared, O’Donovan set up points for Lee Quilligan and then Kieran Kelleher – after Dunlea defended well to snuff out a Kelleher opportunity, Rhys Dunne’s excellent point made it 0-7 to 0-4.
O’Donovan and Brosnan played an important part in them easing further ahead while Mark Dooley slung over a lovely point from the right sideline before Brosnan gave them that 0-11 to 0-6 lead.
It was the high point of their supremacy, but Midleton dug deep to summon a big response.
D Brosnan 0-3, B Moylan (0-1 f, 0-1 65), A O’Donovan, M Dooley 0-2 each, K Kelleher, R Dunne, G Mulcahy, M Dooley 0-1 each.
C Lehane 0-8 (0-4 f), K McDermott 0-4, P White 0-2, M Finn 0-1.
C Hickey; E Varian, L Coughlan, C McCarthy; L Horgan, B Moylan, D Noonan; J Brosnan, A O’Donovan; G Mulcahy, D Brosnan, R Dunne; M Dooley, K Kelleher, L Quilligan.
K Connolly for Brosnan (14, injured), C Healy for Kelleher (41, injured).
B Saunderson; T Dunlea, T O‘Leary Hayes, C Cronin; E McGrath, C Walsh, E McCarthy; M Finn, K McDermott; A Mulcahy, A Quirke, R O’Regan; P White, C Lehane, C Stack.
E Fraser for Mulcahy (half-time). C Morley for Stack (50), K Burke for McCarthy (51), C Gunning for Quirke (55).
S Stokes (Tullylease).
App?
