Moore and Walsh provide edge to Midleton power play

A BIGGER and more physically imposing Midleton side were simply too strong for Millstreet in a pulsating U21 AFC quarter-final at Castletownroche last night.

Goals at crucial times in each half were the key to Midleton’s victory. In truth they should have won by a more comfortable margin but wasteful shooting prevented them from ever pulling away into a commanding lead.

To Millstreet’s credit they battled bravely until the final whistle but in the end found themselves outmuscled and outclassed by their opponents.

Milstreet’s midfield pairing of Michael Vaughan and Mark Ellis were arguably the two best footballers on show, linking well throughout and dictating play at times, but with seven panellists missing Millstreet were overly reliant on the centre field duo who couldn’t do it all on their own.

Midleton were slower out of the traps and allowed Millstreet a 0-3 to no score lead, all points courtesy of Vaughan, before snapping into action with a goal against the run of play.

Padraig O’Shea’s hand-pass put Cormac Walsh through on goal and he made no mistake.

It was Midleton’s turn to hit three unanswered points as they grew into the game using the long ball to good effect once Padraig O’Shea was moved to full-forward.

While Millstreet continued to run themselves into the ground with little reward, Midleton were content to send the ball into the full-forward line, where they were getting the best of the Millstreet defence.

Midleton took a 1-4 to 0-5 lead into the break but had seven wides to Millstreet’s three.

Both teams traded points in the third quarter with Walsh’s goal continuing to separate the teams.

Then, on 46 minutes, came the hammer blow for Milstreet. A scramble in the square saw referee Dave Farrell award a penalty which Stephen Moore hammered home.

James Kelleher immediately handed Millstreet a lifeline with a stunning long-range goal but they failed to push on and looked dead on their feet as Midleton upped the intensity for the last 10 minutes, popping up with four points to finally kill off the Milstreet challenge.

Scorers for Midleton: S Moore, C Walsh 1-2 each; S Harrington 0-3 (2f); N Madden 0-2; I Kennefick, P O’Mahony 0-1 each.

Scorers for Millstreet: M Vaughan 0-7 (4f); J Kelleher 1-0; M Murphy 0-2.

MIDLETON: D O’Keeffe; L Coughlan, L O’Farrell, B O’Sullivan; K Burke, S O’Farrell, J O’Mahony; P O’Shea, P O’Mahony; N Madden, S Moore, C Walsh; S Ryan, I Kennefick, S Harrington.

Subs: C Kenendy for Ryan (ht), P Haughney for J O’Mahony (55).

MILLSTREET: S Cotter; A Murphy, D McCaul, M O’Connor; D Lenihan, B Murphy, C Lane; M Vaughan, M Ellis; L Murphy, M Murphy, C Sheehan; J Kelleher, K Sheehan, E Hickey.

Subs: R Kelleher for C Lane (ht).

Referee: Dave Farrell (Mitchelstown).