Midleton’s three-goal blitz blows brave Hamilton High School away

Midleton CBS 3-15 Hamilton High School Bandon 1-6: Midleton CBS proved too strong for Hamilton High School Bandon in the Harty Cup at Ballincollig yesterday, recording their first win following an opening round defeat by Ardscoil Rís.

Stamping their authority from early on, three goals in the second quarter from Josh Beausang, John Looney and Jack McDonald set Midleton on their way. It was Hamilton High’s third consecutive defeat in this group and they have one more game remaining against Blackwater CS. To their credit, despite shipping big defeats in each game, they remained competitive to the end. In this encounter the writing was on the wall after 15 minutes when Midleton led 2-3 to 0-1.

Playing with the strong wind, Josh Beausang was the tormentor in chief hitting 1-3 — Looney’s deft flick providing the chance for the goal. Looney then bagged a green flag of his own, latching on to a long delivery from wing-back Dan Harrington. Meanwhile, corner-forward Ben Murray was kept busy as a sweeper for Hamilton High but paid the price up front where their options were reduced.

Sean O’Regan landed a brace of frees and Colm Butler added a point from play for HHS. However, another scoring burst before half-time from the CBS put them 3-5 to 0-3 to the good. The goal was a superb individual effort from McDonald, while the pick of the points came from Sean O’Leary Hayes, after fetching brilliantly from a ball put through by Brendan McCarthy.

Midleton CBS seized the initiative again from the restart, reeling off four points without reply from O’Leary Hayes, Liam O’Shea, Looney and Beausang. Hamilton High were awarded a penalty which Colm Dinneen smashed it to the net but the Midleton response was swift, rifling over the next three points to lead 3-12 to 1-3.

The Bandon side closed out with a trio of points, but so too did the CBS courtesy of Beausang, and subs Liam Gosnell and Garan Manley. Next up is a meeting with Blackwater CS whilst their final tie is against DLS Waterford.

Scorers for Midleton CBS:

J Beausang (1-6, 3 frees), J Looney (1-1), S O’Leary Hayes (0-4), J McDonald (1-0), L Gosnell (0-2), G Manley (free) and L O’Shea (0-1 each).

Scorers for HHS Bandon:

C Dinneen (1-1, 1-0 pen, one free), S O’Regan (0-3 frees), T Kearney and C Butler (0-1 each).

MIDLETON CBS:

R Walsh (St Colman’s); E Leahy (Aghada), C Hegarty (Fr O’Neill’s), M Millerick (Fr O’Neill’s); D Harrington (Fr O’Neill’s), S O’Connor (Fr O’Neill’s), S Smyth (Midleton); C Ruddy (St Colman’s), B McCarthy (Carrigtwohill); J McDonald (Aghada), J Looney (Aghada), K Treacy (Killeagh); L O’Shea (Lisgoold), S O’Leary Hayes (Midleton), J Beausang (St Colman’s).

Subs:

G Manley (Midleton) for K Treacy (37), L Gosnell (Carrigtwohill) for L O’Shea (40), C Terry (Aghada) for C Ruddy (50), C Parker (Fr O’Neill’s) for J Beausang (57), P O’Brien (Midleton) for S O’Leary Hayes (58).

HHS BANDON:

C Dart-O’Flynn (Valley Rovers); T Sheehan (Kilbrittain), J Kelleher (Newcestown), J O’Mahony (Bandon); S O’Regan (Valley Rovers), W Hurley (Valley Rovers), T McCarthy (Bandon); C Butler (Valley Rovers), C Maguire (Courcey Rovers); J McCarthy (Courcey Rovers), A Lyons (Valley Rovers), E Buckley (Ballinhassig); B Murray (Ballinascarthy), C Dinneen (Newcestown), T Kearney (Barryroe).

Subs:

D Twohig (Kilbrittain) for J Kelleher (44), A Settini (Valley Rovers) for A Lyons (56), T Kearney (Kilbrittain) for T McCarthy (57).

Referee:

Diarmuid Kirwan (Cork).