Michael Quill's 1-60 crowns him Premier 1 minor hurling top scorer

It was a fitting end to two thoroughly entertaining deciders, the replay going to the wire just as the drawn final had between Midleton and Blackrock in Páirc Uí Rinn.

Eventually it was the Magpies – backboned by last year's U16 Premier 1 double-winners – who prevailed, securing a first Premier 1 minor title since 2019 and avenging last year's final defeat to Sarsfields.

Remarkably, though, it was a fourth meeting of the sides this season between league and championship. And in those four attempts, Midleton did not beat Blackrock once in an hour of hurling, the replay needed extra time. And, that’s despite victories over every other league and championship opponent they faced en route to the double.

That final pairing is reflected across the scoring charts too – naturally enough given the extra two or three games they had on everyone else – though it’s the Rockies who enjoy far greater representation at the top.

The three forwards who made the greatest impact with Blackrock this year were Michael Quill, Shane O’Shaughnessy and Rowan Moran, three players who were a class above as they stepped up to P1 this year, but none will be eligible next season.

Nonetheless, Quill deservedly finishes as the championship top-scorer, having supplied a total of 1-60 for the Rockies across the six games, while O’Shaughnessy leads the from-play scoring with 2-21, just ahead of Moran with 4-12.

But next up in both charts are Na Piarsaigh men, Craig O’Sullivan finishing second in the overall scoring with 2-40 recorded in his four games, while Luke Hurley’s 6-5 from play puts him third in the other table.

Only then do we reach a Midleton representative – Liam Walsh taking third in the overall chart having amassed 1-35 – and he’s one of 13 players who featured against Blackrock and will be eligible to play minor again next year.

The next four places are held by the free-takers of the remaining teams bar Carrigaline, whose leading scorer Charlie Hanratty sits 12th, with 1-14 (0-10 frees) from his three games.

John O’Sullivan is Midleton’s leading scorer from play with 1-14, while Carrigtwohill’s Tom Walsh is tied fifth in the from-play table having scored 3-7.

Top 10 scorers Premier 1 MHC:

1 Michael Quill (Blackrock) 1-60 (1-45 f, 0-7 65) 

2 Craig O'Sullivan (Na Piarsaigh) 2-40 (1-22 f, 1-0 pen, 0-2 65) 

3 Liam Walsh (Midleton) 1-35 (0-26 f, 0-1 65) 

4 Sam Ring (Carrigtwohill) 2-27 (0-16 f, 0-3 65) 

5 Gavin O'Callaghan (Glen Rovers) 0-31 (0-21 f, 0-1 sideline, 0-4 65) 

6 Adam Dunlea (Sarsfields) 1-25 (0-14 f, 0-3 65) 

6 Bobby Power (Ballincollig) 0-28 (0-17 f, 0-1 65) 

8 Shane O'Shaughnessy (Blackrock) 2-21 

9 Rowan Moran (Blackrock) 4-13 (0-1 sideline) 

10 Luke Hurley (Na Piarsaigh) 6-5 

Premier 1 MHC Top 10 scorers from play:

1 Shane O'Shaughnessy (Blackrock) 2-21 

2 Rowan Moran (Blackrock) 4-12 

3 Luke Hurley (Na Piarsaigh) 6-5 

4 John O'Sullivan (Midleton) 1-14 

5 Craig O'Sullivan (Na Piarsaigh) 0-16 

5 Tom Walsh (Carrigtwohill) 3-7 

7 Sam Ring (Carrigtwohill) 2-8 

8 Tom Huggins (Sarsfields) 1-10 

9 Shane O'Mahony (Midleton) 2-6 

10 Adam Dunlea (Sarsfields) 1-8 

10 Liam Walsh (Midleton) 1-8