Gaelic Games

Hurling round-up: Midleton get back on top in Cork

In Offaly, St Rynagh’s broke Coolderry hearts at the death

Conor Lehane’s scores led Midleton to the Cork title. Photo: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho

Sun Nov 21 2021 - 17:36

Midleton 0-24 Glen Rovers 1-18

Midleton claimed their eighth Cork hurling title and their first since 2013 with a hard-fought win over Glen Rovers in the final at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday.

It was the Glen’s third successive final defeat and they missed a great chance near the end to force a replay, when substitute Conor Dorris’s first-time attempt flew the wrong side of the upright.

The game featured some brilliant scoring between former Cork colleagues, Midleton’s Conor Lehane, who accounted for 0-13, and Patrick Horgan, who contributed 1-12 of the Glen’s total.

READ MORE

It was by no means a one-man show for the new champions, however, because all of their forwards registered scores with Ross O’Regan chipping in with 0-4 and Pa White, captain Cormac Beausang and Sean O’Meara helping themselves to 0-2 each.

Backed by the appreciable wind from the start, Midleton compiled an impressive tally of 0-16 in the first-half with Lehane playing a leading role in attack.

They were 0-8 to 0-3 ahead by the first water-break and pulled further ahead on the resumption, opening up a nine-point gap by the 27th minute.

But, the city side got a much-needed slice of luck, when David Noonan’s long delivery was poked home by Horgan following indecision between keeper Brion Saunderson and full-back Luke Dineen.

Three further points bolstered the Glen’s position as they turned around just four points adrift, 0-16 to 1-9, though it became apparent that they were over-reliant on Horgan for their scores even if Simon Kennefick stepped up to the mark by scoring 0-3.

Despite the heavy burden, however, Horgan dragged his side back on level terms early in the second half to suggest they were on the road to compensating for the previous two seasons’ defeats.

Midleton, however, never trailed and Lehane edged them in front again by the second water-break. Further scores from Beausang and Lehane stretched their advantage to three points.

Horgan kept his side in touch and with Midleton wasting opportunities to make the game safe, the Glen almost made them pay in the fourth minute of injury-time.

Midleton are now back on the Munster club scene, where they meet Limerick champions Kilmallock in the semi-final next month.

Midleton: B Saunderson; S O'Leary Hayes, L Dineen, E Moloney; C Smyth, T O'Connell, C Walsh; P Haughney, S Quirke; R O'Regan (0-4), C Lehane (0-13, 8 frees), S O'Meara (0-2); L O'Farrell (0-1), C Beausang (0-2), P White (0-2).

Subs: S O'Farrell for Haughney 43 mins, G Manley for White 52 mins, A Mulcahy for O'Meara 59 mins.

Glen Rovers: C Hickey; A Lynch, S McDonnell, D Dooling; B Moylan, R Downey, E Downey (0-1); A O'Donovan, D Noonan; D Brosnan (0-1), L Horgan (0-1), M Dooley; S Kennefick (0-3), P Horgan (1-12, 10 frees), L Coughlan.

Subs: C Dorris for Coughlan 40 mins, C Healy for L Horgan 58 mins, D Morris for Dooling 59 mins.

Referee: M Maher (Cork).

St Rynagh’s 1-11 Coolderry 0-12

St Rynagh’s certainly played their get out of jail card when they got a winning goal deep into injury time to leave Coolderry devastated in the Offaly senior hurling final at O’Connor Park.

Rynagh’s were on the verge of defeat when Stephen Quirke scrambled a frantic goalmouth scramble into the net with over two of the three minutes of injury time gone. It was a sensational end to a disappointing final that never really got going.

The conditions were a definite factor in the medicore hurling but it was a hugely competitive, closely fought decider and every ball was hard-earned. It was teak tough and the game was in the balance right to the end.

Underdogs Coolderry had played really well in the second half to get into a winning position. Behind by 0-6 to 0-4 at half time, they got on top throughout the field and an increasingly desperate St Rynagh’s were living on their wits.

Coolderry had begun to turn the screw from the restart and three points in a row from their three best forwards, Brian Carroll, Eoin Ryan and Kevin Connolly put them ahead for the first time, 0-8 to 0-7 by the 42nd minute. Aidan Treacy equalised for the champions, who completed three in a row for the first time since the 1970s, but they were out on their feet, hitting wides and making mistakes under fierce Coolderry pressure.

Coolderry notched three more consecutive points, two from the veteran Carroll (one free) and one from Connolly to lead by 0-11 to 0-8 with eight minutes left. St Rynagh’s looked a beaten team as they had a few atrocious wides but they eventually found their range with Stephen Quirke and Paul Quirke bringing it back to a point. David Tooher missed a great goal chance for Coolderry with two minutes left, with Ben Conneely making the hook and St Rynagh’s breathed again.

A delightful point from Brian Carroll, however, put Coolderry two clear. Aidan Treacy got a 65 to bring it back to a one point game and Quirke’s late goal broke Coolderry’s hearts.

St Rynagh’s had been the better team in the first half. They got three quick points in the first two minutes and while Coolderry got onto level terms by the 19th minute, the winners scored two of the closing three points for that half time lead.

St Rynagh’s manager, Ken Hogan, who led Coolderry to titles in 2010 and 2011, said afterwards: “Coolderry are fantastic club I can’t say enough about them so from my point of view I’m proud of both clus I have been involved with both clubs and for St Rynaghs to win three in a row is a huge achievement for these fellas.”

St Rynagh's: C Clancy; C Hernon, P Camon, S Wynne; M Maloney, B Conneely, D Shortt; J O'Connor, R Hughes; S Quirke (1-1), S Dolan, G Conneely (0-1); L O'Connor (0-2, 1f), A Treacy (0-5, 1f and 1 '65'), A Kenny (0-1).

Subs: N Wynne for L O'Connor (38m), P Quirke (0-1) for Hughes (41m), Diarmuid Horan for Garry Conneely (46m), C Flannery for Kenny (49m).

Coolderry: S Corcoran; S Burke, T Corcoran, S Connolly; C Molloy, D King (0-1), G McCormack; S Ryan, W Malone; E Ryan (0-2), B Carroll (0-6, 3f), E Parlon; D Miller, K Connolly (0-3), C Burke.

Subs: D Tooher for Miller (37m), K Brady for Burke (46m), Mark Bergin for Ryan (57m), D Connolly for Malone (59m).

Referee: K Dooley (Drumcullen).