O’Farrell has final say for Midleton
Thurles CBS looked to have set up a repeat of last year’s final against St Flannan’s when they led by two points as the game drifted into injury time. It’s always a dangerous lead to protect and right on cue O’Farrell struck for the match-winning goal, leaving the Tipp lads no time to recover.
The Midleton full-forward tormented the Thurles defence throughout, bagging a hat-trick of goals and a point for good measure.
The victory delighted the Midleton coach Sean Hurley, who was forced to make two late changes after Shane Donnelly and Evan O’Keeffe were forced off through illness.
“I know it’s a well-worn cliché, but goals do win matches, and Luke managed three for us which has put us in the final for the first time in 11 years”, said Sean.
“The instructions going out were to hit the ball into where Thurles didn’t want it, down on top of their small square, and anything can happen from there. The lads did that and that’s how the goals came. Losing the two lads was a blow but it served to drive the others on.
“We were written off by everybody, but ourselves. Thurles had made no secret of their ambitions. They had a lot of last year’s team which lost the final and wanted another crack off Flannan’s. Maybe they underestimated us, but we pulled out all the stops and I’m thrilled for the lads.
“They have been inspired by the deeds of Joe Deane, Donal Óg Cusack, Diarmuid O’Sullivan and Brian Corcoran - legends who starred for the school in the past.
“In any semi-final it’s all about winning and getting to the final. Maybe the hurling wasn’t pretty at times, but who cares? We are in the Harty Cup final, and we’ll be ready for the big day when it comes.”
Understandably all the plaudits will go to O’Farrell, but Midleton will forever be grateful to corner back Andrew Walsh who was majestic. Time and again he rescued his side with some great clearances, and was ably assisted by full-back Alwyn Kearney, despite the fact his man scored five points. It would have been a lot more but for Kearney’s control of the small square, because Thurles full-forward Pa Bourke is a player of exceptional ability and is likely to figure on the Tipp minor team.
There was little to choose between the teams for most of the game - underlined by the fact they were level seven times. However, the Thurles defence never inspired confidence and O’Farrell exposed their limitations with a brace of goals from limited possession.
The Midleton defence didn’t inspire confidence either and Pa Bourke showed his class with a couple of points which helped his side to an interval lead of 0-9 to 2-2.
Midleton were also worried as star centre-back Paudie O’Sullivan appeared injured as the teams trooped off.
However, the Midleton captain re-appeared for the second half and played a key role as the East Cork school began to take control. Finbarr Day hit over five points, one of which was goal-bound only for Thurles goalkeeper Thomas Lowry to tip his first-time effort over the bar.
Thurles hit back strongly with five unanswered points, three from Pa Bourke, to go two in front as the game drifted into injury time.
The Midleton challenge looked to be finally broken. But at the death, O’Farrell became the toast of Midleton, setting up a final against the champions on March 12.
: Midleton CBS: L. O’Farrell 3-1; F. Day 0-5 (0-3 frees); R. White, P. Haughney 0-1 each. Thurles CBS: P. Bourke 0-7 (0-2 frees); K. Cloghessy 0-4; T. Hammersly, L. Dwane (frees) 0-2 each; J. Barry 0-1.
: C. Cronin; A., Walsh, A. Kearney, C. Fogarty; S. Murphy, P. O’Sullivan, P. O’Shea; J. O’Donnell, J. Keane; B. Lawton, R. White, E. Walsh; D. Ahern, L. O’Farrell, F. Day.
: E. O’Keeffe for E. Walsh; P. Haughney for O’Donnell; K. Mulcahy for E. O’Keeffe; E. O’Keeffe for Keane.
: T. Lowry; T. Quinn, P. Maher, M. Gleeson; J. Coughlan, M. Cahill, P. Stakelum; K. Moran, L. Dwane; JJ Bourke, C. Cloghessy, S. Ryan; J. Barry, P. Bourke, T. Hammersly.
: Anthony Healy for Hammersley. J. O’Neill for S. Ryan.
: M. Condon (Waterford).
