Premier SHC: Midleton off to strong start with win over St Finbarr's
Ciarmhac Smyth of Midleton and William Buckley of St Finbarr's battle for aerial possession during Friday's Co-op SuperStores Premier SHC clash at Páirc Uí Rinn. Picture: Howard Crowdy
Last year’s beaten finalists Midleton led almost all the way through as they opened their Co-op SuperStores Premier SHC campaign with victory over St Finbarr’s at Páirc Uí Rinn on Friday night.
Beaten by Sarsfields in the final of the RedFM Hurling League last month, the Magpies were back in the form that had seen them win their nine regular games in that competition, assembling a 0-13 to 0-9 lead with the wind and then increasing it in the second half as the St Finbarr’s challenge failed to properly ignite.
An open game didn’t always have championship bite, with neither goalkeeper called into serious action in terms of shot-stopping. While the Magpie had the better of the opening exchanges, with midfielders Mikey Finn and Clare native Killian McDermott both on target along with Conor Lehane frees and a beauty from Alex Quirke, the Barrs came back well.
Ben Cunningham’s dead had allowed them to stay in touch and he tied at 0-6 each with his fourth after goalkeeper Shane Hurley, Seán Daly and Brian Hayes had linked well before the latter was fouled.
William Buckley moved the Barrs - who were without the injured Jack Cahalane - in front for the first time with his second, but while Hayes’ skyscraping catches gave the Barrs a valuable outlet, it was one they could not profit from. The county star went closest with a shot wide from a tight angle but Midleton reeled off five on the trot.
The impressive McDermott had two of those to bring his tally to four before Tommy O’Connell fed Quirke for one and Ross O’Regan benefited from good work by Pa White and David Cremin.
Barrs midfielder John Wigginton Barrett might have been in for a goal from a Hayes lay-off but Ciarmhac Smyth averted the danger and Cremin’s point made it 0-11 to 0-7.
With the last four points of the half evenly shared, Midleton targeted a strong restart and they got it with McDermott’s fifth point, followed by a majestic Paul Connaughton effort.
When Ethan Twomey’s long-ranger and another Cunningham free opened the Barrs’ second-half account, it looked like the city side might push on and further erode the deficit but instead Midleton hit back.
Lehane had not scored from play up to that point but conjured two marvellous efforts in as many minutes, the second while on his knees, and another free left them seven ahead, 0-18 to 0-11, with 21 minutes left.
The Barrs did have two points from Conor Cahalane, who was lining out in a half-back role, but they were not able to work much in the way of goalscoring opportunities.
After Lehane followed his seventh and eighth points with a lovely assist for Mikey Finn to make it 0-23 to 0-14, Cunningham’s long-range goal attempt from a free was saved by Brion Saunderson and outside of that green-flag chances were at a premium.
Lehane finished with nine and it was his assist that allowed McDermott to cap his display with a sixth from play as they had eight to spare by the end.
C Lehane 0-9 (0-6f), K McDermott 0-6, P Connaughton 0-3, M Finn, A Quirke 0-2 each, C Walsh, D Cremin, R O’Regan 0-1 each.
B Cunningham 0-8 (0-7 f), C McCarthy, W Buckley, C Cahalane 0-2 each, B Hayes, D Cahalane, E Twomey 0-1 each.
B Saunderson; T Dunlea, T O’Leary Hayes, C Smyth; E McGrath, T O’Connell. C Walsh; M Finn, K McDermott; P White, A Quirke, D Cremin; R O’Regan, P Connaughton, C Lehane.
C Beausang for O’Regan (37), E Moloney for White (51), White for Connaughton (60+2).
S Hurley; C Doolan, S Daly, J Burns; C Cahalane, D Cahalane, J Murray; E Twomey, J Wigginton Barrett; B Cunningham, C McCarthy, J O’Kelly; R Barrett, B Hayes, W Buckley.
C Walsh for Wigginton Barrett (52, injured).
W King (Banteer).
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