Premier 1 MHC: Liam Walsh fires Midleton into final after narrow win over Glen Rovers

Midleton: 0-17 

Glen Rovers: 0-15 

Midleton produced a strong second-half performance to overcome the challenge of Glen Rovers in a scrappy Cork ETB Rebel Óg Premier 1 MHC semi-final at Church Road on Wednesday evening.

The Imokilly side recovered from a two-point deficit at the interval to reach the decider for the second-year running, having lost to Sarsfields last year.

The Magpies were spearheaded by the red-hot Liam Walsh, who finished with 0-12 for the winners. It was his last two scores that got his team over the line, with extra time looking a strong possibility late on.

Midleton did the heavy lifting in the opening 30 minutes. Playing against a strong wind, they stayed within striking distance of their opponents, but it took a bit of quality at the end to prevail.

Scott Dunlea’s introduction helped Midleton in defence, while centre-back Max Murphy marshalled Michael Tadhg Brosnan brilliantly. 

The Midleton defence played a key part in a game that wasn’t filled with quality, with frees and a stop-start nature dominating the hour.

It was tit-for-tat early on, with the sides level at 0-3 each after 10 minutes.

Walsh’s accuracy from frees was proving vital for Midleton given they were against the wind.

Michael Forde and then a pair of Gavin O’Callaghan frees pushed Glen Rovers three clear, but two Walsh placed balls cut the gap to the minimum.

It remained a ding-dong battle, with Josh Brosnan helping the Glen gain a foothold in midfield as they led 0-9 to 0-6 after 24 minutes.

Shane O’Mahony and Ciarán Kelly pointed for the Magpies, but two quick-fire O’Callaghan white flags, one from a free, gave Glen Rovers a deserved three-point buffer.

But Midleton finished the half better. Senan Carroll was unlucky not to score a goal as his effort was saved by Glen goalkeeper Shane McCarthy, but O’Mahony got his second point as Midleton trailed 0-11 to 0-9 at half-time.

The Imokilly side were wind-assisted for the new half as the sides traded points. The stop-start nature of a game dominated by frees, with no real flow to the contest, continued as neither side was able to dominate for any lengthy period.

Glen Rovers led 0-14 to 0-12 after 48 minutes. Wides and overplaying the ball were hindering Midleton, but two Walsh frees tied matters.

Walsh then nudged his side in front with yet another placed ball, but a cracking point from James Murray, over the shoulder, levelled things again.

It looked like extra time was going to be required with the sides level going into injury time, but Midleton found the scores to get over the line.

Walsh converted a 65 and, despite the Glen having a couple of chances to draw level, it was the top scorer who got the last score of the game with a free from long range.

Scorers for Midleton: L Walsh 0-12 (0-11 f, 0-1 65), S O’Mahony 0-2, A Molumby, A Hennessy, C Kelly 0-1 each.

Glen Rovers: G O’Callaghan 0-10 (0-7 f), M Forde 0-2, R Crean, J Murray, E McGuckin 0-1 each.

MIDLETON: W Stokes; R McCormack, B Dunlea, J Morley; P Egan, M Murphy, F Cahill; A Molumby, A Hennessy; S Carroll, C Kelly, L Walsh; C McCarthy, S O’Mahony, J O’Sullivan.

Subs: C O’Brien for J O’Sullivan (12, inj), S Dunlea for J Morley (46), J Cahill for C Kelly (51).

GLEN ROVERS: S McCarthy; C Singelton, C Burke, K Foley; R O’Callaghan, C Cunningham, L Woods; J Brosnan, R Crean; G O’Callaghan, MT Brosnan, E McGuckin; J Murray, J O’Mahony, M Forde.

Subs: C Turnbull for J O’Mahony (44).

Referee: Patrick O’Mahony (Kilbrittain).