Minor GAA: Marvellous Midleton take minor hurling league title against Sarsfields
Midleton celebrate their Rebel Óg P1 Minor Hurling success against Sars. Picture: David Creedon
An early scoring surge was the key foundation for an impressive Midleton victory as they claimed the Rebel Óg U18 Premier 1 Hurling League title at Cloyne on Wednesday evening.
While the Magpies trailed to Sarsfields twice in the early stages – and saw a penalty superbly saved by goalkeeper Cormac McCarthy – once they hit the front with a brilliant Ciarán O’Brien goal, they stayed on top.
The green flag was followed by six straight points, with midfielder Alex Molumby and centre-forward Ciarán Kelly showing the form that would result in each scoring five from play. That scoreboard superiority was underpinned by a dominant half-back line where Scott Dunlea, Senan Carroll and Cian Hogan formed a near impenetrable wall.
While points from Cathal Galvin and Tom Huggins did help Sarsfields to stem the Midleton flow midway through the half, even at that stage the cushion was of a size that suggested goals would be needed to erode it.
Midleton’s scoring power ensured that they continued to respond to any Sars attempts to fight back, while Jason Morley impressed in a strong full-back line. After Liam Walsh, who had been denied with the penalty, landed a huge point to make it 1-13 to 0-7, it was Morley who made a superb block on a Huggins effort, though points from the Cork minor and Adam Dunlea made the Riverstown side’s deficit slightly more manageable.
However, on the restart, Walsh converted two frees, either side of combining with Carroll to set up Molumby.
John O’Sullivan was on target as they moved 1-19 to 0-10 in front by the 42nd minute, though Sars replied through Alex Maher and then Huggins was unlucky not to goal, Will Stokes saving brilliantly from him.
Cathal Galvin, Tom Hurley and centre-back Adam Leahy all had points in this period for Sars as they came within nine, 1-20 to 0-14, but Midleton never showed any signs of paniciking.
Kelly and Walsh ensured they restored breathing space, with Stokes again doing brilliantly to keep out a goal-bound Huggins effort on 51.
The closest that Midleton came to another goal was an effort from sub Ruairí O’Riordan in the closing stages that was just wide, but they were in the nice position of needing them as Walsh and O’Brien helped them to ease clear.
Cork minor midfielder Alfie Hennessy had the final say, his mazy run capped by a point at the death to leave 12 in it at the end. Midleton will expect a closer encounter when the sides meet in the championship in a matter of weeks, though.
L Walsh 0-9 (0-5 f, 0-1 65), C Kelly, A Molumby 0-5 each, C O’Brien 1-1, A Hennessy, J O’Sullivan 0-2 each, C McCarthy, S Carroll 0-1 each.
C Galvin (0-1 f), T Hurley 0-5 each, T Huggins (0-1 f), A Dunlea (0-2 f, 0-1 65) 0-4 each, A Leahy, A Maher 0-1 each.
W Stokes; J Morley, B Dunlea, P Egan; S Dunlea, S Carroll, C Hogan; A Molumby, A Hennessy; L Walsh, C Kelly, C McCarthy; R Nolan, C O’Brien, J O’Sullivan.
R McCormack for B Dunlea (36), R O’Riordan for Nolan (55), H Waterson for Hogan, B Ó Dálaigh for Walsh (both 58), M Murphy Allegrini for Stokes, F Boan for Morley (both 60).
C McCarthy; S Carey, D Pomeroy, B Murphy; S Sheehan, A Leahy, A McCarthy; A Dunlea, A Maher; T Huggins, C Galvin, C Kelly; R Murphy, A Morley, T Hurley.
A Naughton for R Murphy (36), C McDonald for McCarthy (50), C Reddy for Kelly (52).
W Wallace (Aghada).
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