O’Connell earns Midleton deserved replay

A DRAW was about right in the keenly contested Evening Echo SHC third-round clash at Páirc Uí Chaoímh yesterday, where Mickey O’Connell’s injury time pointed free earned Midleton a second bite of the cherry.

Two evenly matched sides were level seven times over the 60 odd minutes and it would have been hard on either of them had they lost. Blackrock, in particular, would have been particularly aggrieved as they created a couple of gilt edged goal chances which they failed to convert that on another day could have been costly.

Now in the twilight of a great career Fergal Ryan rolled back the years with a majestic display at corner-back for the Rockies. Next to him John Browne was equally good at full back, while the evergreen Frank Barry made one wonder save which kept his side in the game at a time when Midleton made their push for home.