Stylish Midleton give Coláiste Iosaef lads a lesson
Taking control after an inauspicious start, Midleton raced into a 1-7 to 0-0 lead at the interval and continued to dominate to their heart’s content after the resumption despite the best efforts of Colaiste Iosauf.
Following three early wides, Midleton found their range and a succession of points from Dara Aherne, Robert White and ace free-taker Evan O’Keeffe propelled them into a five points lead after the opening quarter.
With half backs Paudie O’Sullivan and Padraig O’Shea excelling, Brian Lawton and Cian Fogarty dominating at midfield and both White and O’Keeffe sparkling up front, Midleton increased their lead to seven points before O’Keeffe billowed the Coláiste Iosaef net from a 20-metre free at the end of the first-half.
Held scoreless in that period by a tenacious Midleton defence, Coláiste Iosaef scorned two opportunities to break their duck but full-forward Tiernan Ryan elected to go for goal from close-in frees. Both his efforts, however, brought no joy.
Midleton were 1-8 to the good before Ryan, two minutes after the re-start, finally got his side’s name on the scoresheet when he pointed from far out.
He followed with another from a free but any hopes Coláiste Iosaef harboured of making a comeback were quickly nipped in the bud by a series of fine Midleton points in rapid succession from Kieran Mulcahy, Finbarr Day and impressive centre-forward White.
Midleton were 1-11 to 0-4 in front before wing forward Dara Aherne pounced for a delightful second goal in the 49th minute.
An outclassed Coláiste Iosaef side did manage to get one goal back when substitute Thomas Barrett goaled five minutes from time but there was no stopping a high-flying Midleton team that brought the curtain down in style on their runaway triumph with a late goal from Mulcahy, who had been set-up brilliantly by corner forward Day.
This was Midleton’s second straight win and even though they may not, as yet, be the finished article they certainly possess the potential and the capabilities to figure prominently in the competition.
Scorers for Midleton CBS: K. Mulcahy 1-3 (0-3 from frees); E. O’Keeffe 1-3 (1-3 from frees); D. Aherne 1-1; R. White 0-3; B. Lawton, F. Day J. Keane and P. O’Sullivan (free) 0-1 each.
Colaiste Iosauf: T. Barrett 1-0; T. Ryan 0-3 (0-1 from free); P. O’Brien 0-2; S. O’Donnell 0-1.
MIDLETON CBS: C. Cronin; A. Walsh, A. Kearney, S. Donnelly; S. Murphy, P. O’Sullivan, P. O’Shea; B. Lawton, C. Fogarty; J. Keane, R. White, D. Aherne; F. Day, E. O’Keeffe, K. Mulcahy.
Subs: E. Walsh for O’Keeffe (injured); E. O’Donnell for O’Sullivan; E. Kennedy for Walsh; E. Clifford for Aherne.
COLAISTE IOSAEF: E. O’Connell; P. Cleary, D. O’Dea, K. Roche; D. McCarthy, L. Barrett, G. Finn; P. O’Brien, V. Staunton; J. Lynch, S. O’Donnell, B. Walsh; W. Egan, T. Ryan, D. Mullins.
Sub: T. Barrett for Mullins.
Referee: B. White (Tipperary).
