Conor Lehane excels as Midleton open Cork Premier SHC campaign with comfortable win
Midleton's Conor Lehane. Picture: INPHO/James Crombie
Nothing spectacular from Midleton, but still more than enough to begin their championship campaign on a winning note.
Having lost their opening day group fixture last summer, a result which contributed to the East Cork men failing to emerge from the group stages in 2020, Midleton were in no mood for a similar outcome on Saturday afternoon.
Ger Fitzgerald’s charges raced into a four-point lead inside eight minutes, with their advantage only once reducing to three between there and the finishing line.
That their opponents and neighbours managed just one point from play across the hour - supplied by Brendan Twomey in the 48th minute - spoke volumes of the gulf in class between the sides and how Midleton were never in danger of coming off second best at Páirc Uí Rinn.
Last year’s opening round Sars defeat and how that result had a significant say in their short-lived championship involvement was certainly a source of motivation going into this fixture, said Fitzgerald.
“Losing last year on the opening day was a difficult one for us,” remarked the Midleton manager.
“We were pleased overall with today’s performance. Local derbies are always tough and they are all about winning. We got the result, but there is a lot we could improve on and loads we have to improve on going into play Na Piarsaigh next weekend. We are looking forward to that game, but we have a lot of work to do.”
One particular area picked out by Fitzgerald was his team’s over-anxiousness in defence. Limiting Carrigtwohill to one point from play was offset by the number of frees conceded, he insisted.
“I wouldn't say it was indiscipline, it was more anxiousness. We were over-anxious, we just need to be a little bit calmer in the tackle.”
Excellent for the winners was Conor Lehane who finished with 0-11 in total, six of which came from play. Also impressive was midfielder Paul Haughney with four from play.
Six of Midleton’s 13 first-half points were provided by the experienced duo, Carrigtwohill beyond fortunate to be only five in arrears at the break. Not a single first-half score from play neatly summed up the latter’s struggles.
Behind by 0-7 to 0-2 at the first water break and 0-11 to 0-4 in arrears on 27 minutes, Carrigtwohill were handed a lifeline on 28 minutes when a long-range free from goalkeeper Shane Devlin was dropped behind the Midleton goal line by his opposite number Brion Saunderson for a Carrigtwohill green flag. Midleton protested that the sliotar did not cross the line, but the umpires said otherwise.
The opening goal of the contest - which brought Devlin’s first-half contribution to 1-2 - left Carrigtwohill just four off their opponents, a scarcely believable scenario in the context of proceedings’ one-sided nature up to this point.
All-Ireland U20 winner Tommy O’Connell and Haughney answered the goal with a brace of points before Seán Walsh converted his third free at the other end for a 0-13 to 1-5 interval scoreline.
Carrigtwohill, to give Seán O’Farrell’s side due credit, did sneak the third quarter by a point, but no difference it made to the final outcome. Their inability to mine scores from play, compared to the ease at which Midleton were finding the target, meant there was only ever going to be one winner here.
Indeed, the final winning margin of seven points would have been much greater were it not for two fine second-half Devlin saves to deny Midleton centre-forward Sean O’Meara. As it was, Lehane, Haughney, and Ross O’Regan swelled their personal tallies during a somewhat drab final quarter.
Midleton, who left unused on the bench Cork senior Sean O’Leary Hayes and Cork U20 midfielder Sam Quirke, can put one foot in the knockout stages with a second win over Na Piarsaigh this Friday. Carrigtwohill face Sars on Sunday and know that nothing but victory will suffice if they too are to progress beyond the group phase.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
