July 2021 – Page 8

O’Shea’s point breaks Ballyhea hearts as Midleton win 2020 Junior B hurling title in added time

Midleton 2-10 Ballyhea 1-12

Courtesy of John Coughlan (The Echo)

A POINT deep into added time from Padraig O’Shea was enough for Midleton to see off Ballyhea in the 2020 Co-Op Superstores Junior B Hurling Championship final at Páirc Uí Rinn on Sunday.

This game had everything and the despondency in the Ballyhea camp at the final whistle epitomised their disappointment at not winning the title. On the other side of the coin, the Midleton camp were ecstatic and despite going into the final as hot favourites they were certainly tested by a resilient Ballyhea.

Right from the throw in the pace from both teams was frantic and Midleton full-forward John Keane should have raised a green flag in the third minute but just when he was about to pull the trigger, he was hooked by the Ballyhea full-back Steve Dennehy.

Midleton did settle into their stride and points from Keane and Mark O’Keeffe edged them into a two-point lead in the sixth minute.

The former Cork hurling star Neil Ronan (now 42) is still enjoying his beloved sport and after missing two placed balls it was a case of third time lucky in the 10th minute and a minute later he executed a 65.

For some strange reason, Midleton dropped their intensity as Ballyhea courtesy of a third Ronan point edged ahead by the minimum 0-4 to 0-3 just before the opening water break.

Ronan registered his fourth point following a free on the restart as Midleton were struggling to win any dirty ball, but O’Keeffe reduced the deficit 12 minutes from the interval.

Another problem Midleton were encountering was their tendency to give away soft frees that were duly punished by Ronan.

The introduction of a blood sub for Midleton worked the oracle as Christian Daly replaced Mark O’Keeffe and in the space of two minutes he managed to drill a low ball to the net.

Suddenly Ballyhea looked under pressure but they responded in style two minutes from the interval when James Barrett drilled an unstoppable shot past the bewildered Midleton keeper.

Indeed, Midleton could have finished the half in style but Padraig O’Shea’s batted shot went inches wide of the left post.

Trailing 1-7 to 1-6 at the interval Ballyhea needed a good start but it was O’Shea who came up trumps with the opening point in the 35th minute.

To be fair the standard of hurling was superb for the B championship grade as the striking and hooking and blocking would be on a par at a higher level.

The game was finally poised but super half time sub–Christian Daly came to the rescue of the Magpies when the game was in the balance.

A high ball was caught Ryan McConville who then assisted Daly and in similar fashion to his first goal be gave the keeper no chance.

Neil Ronan continued to punish Midleton and just before the second water-break he struck over his eighth point, but his side trailed 2-9 to 1-9 entering the final quarter.

The class of Ronan came to the fore on the restart when he struck over a monstrous point from 70 yards that was followed by another from play by James Horgan.

Midleton looked to be in meltdown and Ronan levelled proceedings with another stunning strike with eight minutes remaining.

The teams were still deadlocked in the closing minute and with Midleton held scoreless for 14 minutes the title looked to be heading to north-Cork.

Just when extra-time looked on the cards Ballyhea gave away a needless free and Padraig O’Shea duly punished them with a sublime strike.

At times sport can be cruel and Ballyhea despite putting in a heroic hour of hurling just fell short as Midleton dug deepest at the death.

Scorers for Midleton: C Daly 2-0, M O’Keeffe 0-6 (0-5 f), J Keane 0-2, P O’Shea 0-2 (0-1 f).

Ballyhea: N Ronan 0-10 (0-7 f, 65), J Barrett 1-0, D O’Shaughnessy, J Horgan 0-1 each.

MIDLETON: C Swayne; C Evans, E Walsh, D O’Sullivan; B O’Shea, P Dowling, R McConville; L McCarthy, K Mulcahy; S O’ Farrell, P O’Shea, M O’Keeffe; C Hurley, J Keane, T O’Sullivan.

Subs: C Daly for M O’Keeffe (bs 23), K Ryan for C Swayne (h-t), C Daly for T O’Sullivan (h-t).

BALLYHEA: G O’Shea; J Horgan, S Dennehy, N Crowley; K Hanley, C Crowley; W Carroll, T O’Sullivan; J Morrissey; N Ronan, C Hanley, J Barrett; M Mortell, J Horgan.

Subs: D O’Shaughnessy for M Mortell (inj 4m), R Hanley for J Morrissey (38).

Referee: Colm Vaughan (Cill na Martra).

Cork U20 hurlers end the long wait for All-Ireland hurling glory

Cork 2-19 Dublin 1-18

Courtesy of Denis Hurley (The Echo)

IT was far from straightforward and there were a few late jitters, but ultimately Cork held their nerve to triumph in the Bord Gáis Energy All-Ireland U20HC final at Nowlan Park on Saturday evening.

Blitzing their opponents with an unanswered 1-4 inside eight minutes, Pat Ryan’s side still held a seven-point advantage at half-time. While Dublin cut that to four just after the second-half water-break, Cork looked to have eased any worries as their second goal, from Pádraig Power, made it 2-18 to 0-14, and a pair of points from sub Brian Hayes looked to have acted as insurance in the immediate aftermath.

Back Dublin came once more, though, snaffling a goal as sub Luke McDwyer converted the rebound when goalkeeper Eddie Gibbons’ 20m free was stopped on the Cork line. Cork concerns weren’t helped with a pair of wides but Jack Cahalane was on hand to give them some more breathing space and, though Dublin’s Liam Murphy, had the final score with his sixth point of the evening, Cork took the silverware.

For a group of players who were denied a ‘proper’ year at minor level – they beat Dublin in a one-off U17 competition in 2017 – and hadn’t played since the Munster final against Tipperary on December 23, the victory was a sweet one.

Cork could scarcely have wished for a better start. Power pointed inside 23 seconds, then on 53 Alan Connolly doubled that lead halfway through the second minute Shane Barrett had sent over a third.

Daire Connery, having reacted first to reach a clearance from Dublin goalkeeper Gibbons, slotted over the fourth in the third minute and though there was a five-minute wait for the next score, it was a big one as the opening goal arrived. After some outstanding individual play and a mazy run from Connolly set him towards goal, he unselflishly passed to Power, who went for the jugular. While he was denied by a Gibbons save, Seán Twomey was on hand to send the loose ball to the net.

Such dominance couldn’t last but it was nevertheless a solid foundation block and the seven-point lead still pertained at the water-break, as Dublin’s two opening points, both from Liam Murphy, were answered by Colin O’Brien – after a superb catch – and Shane Barrett respectively.

That left it 1-6 to 0-2 but, while Dublin’s Darach McBride did waste a good scoring opportunity immediately after action resumed, they did manage to belatedly pick up some momentum. After the ever-industrious O’Brien was harshly penalised for charging, Dara Purcell cut the gap to six points and then Murphy’s third brought them closer again after good play from Darragh Power and McBride.

Unfortunately for the Leinster champions, too often they were let down by poor decision-making, either in terms of wayward scoring attempts or misplaced passes when Cork might have been vulnerable.

An exquisite pointed sideline cut from O’Brien settled any nerves that Cork may have had and that was followed by a Connery free from halfway before Shane Barrett’s run was the catalyst for a smart Tommy O’Connell effort.

That opened up an eight-point lead, the biggest of the game up to then – and it could have been more but for a Gibbons save from Darragh Flynn. Regardless, Cork’s strong tackling and defending from the front ensured that Dublin found their efforts to get closer largely repelled.

It was 1-11 to 0-7 at half-time, Cork’s final score a massive Flynn point after he had squeezed through a double challenge and there might even have been a sniff of a late goal as O’Brien fed Brian Roche but Darragh Power did well to force him wide.

Cork were back out first for the second half with Dublin keeping them waiting and it seemed to pay off as they had three of the first four points to come back within five by the 36th minute, Micheál Murphy with a pair of fine efforts.

They continued to chip away at Cork’s lead and Power’s point on 47 left it 1-15 to 0-14. Alan Connolly had a third point for Cork before what looked like the decisive score, Brian Roche the architect for Power’s finish, and Hayes’s contribution left ten in it.

Dublin wouldn’t relent, but Cork had enough in the tank.

Scorers for Cork: P Power 1-1, A Connolly (0-2 f), S Barrett, D Connery (0-2 f) 0-3 each, S Twomey 1-0, D Flynn, T O’Connell, C O’Brien (0-1 sideline), B Hayes 0-2 each, J Cahalane 0-1.

Dublin: L Murphy 0-6 (0-3 f), D Purcell 0-4, M Murphy 0-3, L McDwyer 1-0, K Desmond, E Gibbons (f) 0-2 each, D Power 0-1.

CORK: E Davis; C O’Callaghan, E Roche, A Walsh Barry; D Connery, C Joyce, D O’Leary; B Roche, T O’Connell; D Flynn, S Barrett, S Twomey; Colin O’Brien, P Power A Connolly.

Subs: J Cahalane for O’Brien (39), E Carey for Twomey (41), B Hayes for Connolly (49), S O’Regan for Flynn (53), Cormac O’Brien for Barrett (58).

DUBLIN: E Gibbons; A Murphy, A Dunphy, I Ó hEither; E O’Donnell, K Burke, T Kinnane; D Power, M Sweeney; D McBride, M Murphy, L Gannon; D Purcell, K Desmond, L Murphy.

Subs: B Sheehy for Kinnane (10-11, temporary), D Leavy for O’Donnell (39), C Foley for Sweeney (46), L McDwyer for McBride (48), Sheehy for Kinnane (55), P Linehan for Power (56).

Referee: J Keenan (Wicklow).

Cork advance to Munster Final

CORK 1-16 LIMERICK 0-11

Courtesy of www.gaa.ie

John O’Rourke scored 1-3 as Cork advanced to their fifth successive Munster SFC decider after victory over a brave Limerick side at the LIT Gaelic Grounds.

The home side competed well throughout the opening half but they fell away at the end and finished on the wrong side of a 1-6 to 0-4 half-time scoreline.

O’Rourke’s goal was the most significant score of the game and a brilliant finish to the half that really put daylight between the two sides.

Limerick needed to find the net in the second half but couldn’t. Cork held them to points from distance, however, they were made to fight hard to reach another provincial final. Limerick finished poorly again in the final quarter.

Cork captain Ian Maguire won the toss and they played with a slight breeze at their backs in the first half, but it was Limerick who registered the first point inside the opening minute through Gordon Brown.

Cork hit back emphatically and it was a move started by their full-back Daniel O’Mahony. The ball was worked upfield and Ruairi Deane found a chink in the Limerick defence. He passed to O’Rourke and the Carbery Rangers clubman finished past Donal Ó Sullivan at the second attempt. The Limerick goalkeeper left the field injured after the collision between the two.

There was a lengthy stoppage and when play resumed Hugh Bourke and Brian Hurley traded impressive frees. But Limerick in particular looked confident and they continued to threaten up front.

Although Robbie Burke missed with his attempt from a free, Bourke made amends. Maguire hit back and his team were 1-2 to 0-3 in front at the first water break.

Nevertheless there were some poor misses and Luke Connolly’s poor attempt with a free from near the right sideline only added fuel to Limerick’s fire.

Neville sent a poor shot wide up the other end but it was the hosts who scored next when Bourke ended a 15-minute wait for a Limerick point.

Cork replied straight away through Hurley and then Sean Powter advanced from his corner-back role to send Cork into a three-point lead for the first time.

There were five minutes added at the end of the first half and Powter landed another sucker-punch with a second point, Mattie Taylor scored too.

Cork were five points clear at the break. O’Rourke and Hurley scored either side of a Neville effort on the resumption.

Points from Bourke (free) and O’Sullivan (45) kept Limerick right in contention but two quickfire scores courtesy of Hurley and O’Rourke were momentum breakers.

Neville should have buried his shot when he got through on goal in the 48th minute but he sent that wide. He made up for that miss by doubling up on his personal tally.

Bourke and Cork substitute Cian Kiely scored before the final break with the Rebels taking a 1-11 to 0-9 lead into it.

Ian Corbett reduced the arrears even further but O’Rourke put Cork clear again before he left the field. Kiely, Hurley and Sean Meehan added a few more and the result was beyond doubt.

Scorers for Cork: John O’Rourke 1-3, Brian Hurley 0-6 (0-4f), Cian Kiely 0-2, Sean Powter 0-2, Ian Maguire 0-1, Mattie Taylor 0-1, Sean Meehan 0-1.

Scorers for Limerick: Hugh Bourke 0-5 (0-5f), Iain Corbett 0-2, Danny Neville 0-2, Gordon Brown 0-1, Aaron O’Sullivan 0-1 (0-1 45).

Cork: Mícheál Martin; Sean Powter, Daniel O’Mahony, Kevin Flahive; Kevin O’Donovan, Sean Meehan, Mattie Taylor; Ian Maguire, Paul Walsh; Brian Hartnett; Ruairi Deane, John O’Rourke; Luke Connolly, Brian Hurley, Daniel Ó Duinnín.

Subs: Cian Kiely for Sean Powter (42), Kevin O’Driscoll for Paul Walsh (46), Brian Murphy for Daniel O’Mahony (51), Mark Collins for Luke Connolly (60), Michael Hurley for John O’Rourke (62).

Limerick: Donal Ó Sullivan; Sean O’Dea, Brian Fanning, Michael Donovan; Bob Childs, Iain Corbett, Gordon Brown; Darragh Treacy, Tommie Childs; Cian Sheehan, Cillian Fahy, Adrian Enright; Danny Neville, Robbie Burke, Hugh Bourke.

Subs: Aaron O’Sullivan for Donal Ó Sullivan (6), Brian Donovan for Robbie Burke (half-time), James Naughton for Adrian Enright (44), Killian Ryan for Cian Sheehan (44), Paul Maher for Robert Childs (55), Josh Ryan for Cillian Fahy (60).

Club Fixtures this weekend

Fixtures from 09/07/2021 to 10/07/2021

Friday 09th July 2021
Bon Secours 2020 Junior B Football Championship : Shanballymore v Doneraile , at Castletownroche, 7:15pm QF;

RedFM Hurling League 1A: Sarsfields v Glen Rovers , at Riverstown, 7:30pm Round 3;

RedFM Hurling League 5A: Tracton v Blarney , at Minane Bridge, 7:45pm Round 3;

Saturday 10th July 2021
Co-Op Superstores 2020 Junior B Hurling Championship: Freemount v Randal Og , at Coachford, 5:00pm Round 1;

RedFM Hurling League 1A: Newcestown v Blackrock , at Newcestown, 5:00pm Round 3;

RedFM Hurling League 1B: St Finbarrs v Midleton , at Togher, 2:00pm Round 3;

RedFM Hurling League 2A: Killeagh v Kanturk , at Killeagh, 5:00pm Round 3; Douglas v Ballymartle , at Douglas, 6:00pm Round 3;

RedFM Hurling League 4B: Carrigaline v Castlelyons , at Carrigaline, 6:00pm Round 3;

Tom Creedon Cup: St Michaels v Adrigole , at Adrigole, 5:00pm Round 3; Macroom v Beal Athan Ghaorthaidh , at Macroom, 6:00pm Round 3; Douglas v Kinsale , at Douglas, 6:00pm Round 3; O Donovan Rossa v Castletownbere , at Castletownbere, 7:00pm Round 3;