Friday night action in the Co-Op SuperStores hurling championships
Friday night action in the Co-Op SuperStores hurling championships delivered drama in spades, with Carrigtwohill surviving a penalty shootout thriller against Na Piarsaigh, while Midleton cruised past Youghal to book their spots in the last four.
Carrigtwohill 2-24 Na Piarsaigh 3-21 (Carrigtwohill won 3-2 on penalties)
Carrigtwohill earned their luck as they edged Na Piarsaigh on penalties in Friday night’s Co-Op SuperStores SAHC quarter-final at Páirc Uí Rinn.
Having battled back in normal time and extra time, Carrig took an early 2-0 lead in the penalty shootout as goalkeeper Shane Devlin scored one and saved one, but Na Piarsaigh were level after replacement goalkeeper Eoin Sheehan made a superb save. However, sub Justin Oke, who was unable to start for Carrig but proved hugely influential after coming on, made it 3-2, and Pádraig Guest was unable to find the target for Piarsaigh.
In extra time, a fine goal from sub Eddie Gunning had looked decisive after Na Piarsaigh fell behind for the first time all night, but Carrigtwohill battled back well, with points from Oke, James Mulcahy and a huge free from his own 45 by Matthew Barrett forcing the shootout.
That response mirrored what they had done earlier. Down by four at half-time, Carrigtwohill introduced Oke and Tomás Hogan and slowly reduced the deficit as Na Piarsaigh continued to waste scoreable chances. Kevin Moynihan’s second goal had put the city side six clear, but Carrig hauled themselves level again through Daniel Nolan’s close-range finish and a late scramble goal from Darragh Murnane to force extra time.
A semi-final against Blarney awaits, and Carrigtwohill will draw on the character shown here.
Midleton 4-15 Youghal 2-12
The depth of talent in Midleton was on full display as they coasted to an easy win over East Cork rivals Youghal in the Co-Op SuperStores Intermediate Hurling Championship quarter-final at Dungourney.
Veteran Luke O’Farrell blasted 2-2 while 19-year-old Peter Barrett sniped 0-5 from play, as Midleton raced into an 11-point lead inside 11 minutes. Kian Farmer and Cathal Beausang added early goals before O’Farrell’s clinical second put the contest beyond doubt. Midleton led 4-11 to 0-8 at the break.
Youghal showed more intensity after the interval, with Bill Cooper’s move to full-forward helping them win more ball, and goalkeeper Oisín Walsh struck twice from placed balls — including a penalty — to add respectability to the scoreline. But it was never enough to threaten a Midleton side already in cruise control.
