Carrigtwohill continue to benefit from tough tests in Division 1

For the second RedFM Hurling League Division 1 game in a row, Carrigtwohill were able to take more than a few positives despite defeat to a top side.

Just over a fortnight ago, the East Cork side lost by six points to county champions Sarsfields, who are now in second place in the top flight; then, on Sunday, they travelled to face another local rival, Midleton.

The Magpies had won their six previous outings and that became seven in a row as their 3-21 to 0-25 victory secured a place in the final with a game to spare.

Defeat leaves Carrigtwohill on four points, two ahead of the bottom pair, Killeagh and Fr O’Neill’s, with two matches left – the first of those against Killeagh.

Given that they were somewhat short-handed heading to Clonmult Memorial Park, Carrig manager Denis Walsh was again accentuating the positive after the way his side performed.

“We're hugely encouraged,” he said.

“We were missing seven from our first 18, down five from the Sarrs match.

“We’ve played two of the strongest teams in Cork the last two weeks, two of the biggest teams, teams with the most resources.

“We're finding it very hard to replace seven fellas, but the fellas that came in were unreal, the effort was huge.”

Carrigtwohill’s prospects looked bleak when Midleton hit them for three goals in quick succession just after the midway point of the first half, however they responded with five points on the trot. Then, they did the same at the start of the second half to draw level, with the score-taking of Seán Walsh and Matthew Barrett standing out.

While Midleton reacted well – and a late red card meant that Carrig were unable to maintain the same physical levels – it was another valuable outing in terms of going up against a premier senior championship side.

It provided further proof of why the exposure to top opposition that comes with playing in Division 1 is of such benefit for a senior A side.

“We got level at the start of the second half,” Walsh said, “and obviously playing the last ten minutes with 14 men, we're obviously going to be suffering a bit there, but 25 points is a massive score.

“We're thrilled with the effort, thrilled with the scores, thrilled with some of the scramble defending.

“Just overall, this is why we want to be in this division, to be playing against these kinds of teams, and to be under pressure, and to be stretched, and to see how we can respond, or how we can cope with that.”

The next challenge could be a pivotal one as Carrigtwohill take on Killeagh. The terms are fairly simple – if Carrigtwohill pick up another victory, they will be guaranteed Division 1 hurling in 2027, though a defeat would leave them trailing their divisional rivals on head-to-head and needing something from the last game, against St Finbarr’s on June 28.

“Exactly, it is in our own hands, but Killeagh have been going well,” Walsh said.

“That's just a huge game, but we know what's at stake.

“We'll hopefully have a few fellas back the next day, but as I said, the fellas that came in today were outstanding.

“We're thrilled with the effort and thrilled with the performance.”