Imperious Lehane guides Midleton past Erin's Own

That they had three points to spare over a supremely committed Erin’s Own in Páirc Uí Rinn this afternoon was in the main down to Conor Lehane. Who else could it be?

Sun, 08 Sep, 2024 - 18:01

John Coleman

Cork Premier SHC: Midleton 0-23 Erin’s Own 1-17

They didn’t make it easy for themselves, but the most important thing from a Midleton perspective is that they have once again made it out of the group and into the knockout stages of the Co-op Superstores Cork Premier SHC.

In that quarterfinal they will play Newtownshandrum, while Erin’s Own season is over.

That they had three points to spare over a supremely committed Erin’s Own in Páirc Uí Rinn this afternoon was in the main down to the imperious Conor Lehane. Who else could it be?

On a day when the Magpies hit sixteen wides, their talisman was perfect. He took fourteen shots and found the target each time with five of them coming from play. Crucially, he hit five of their six points in the final quarter to help turn a one-point deficit into that three-point win.

The Magpies led by four at the break, but Erin’s Own, playing with the wind got exactly what they needed in the thirty-seventh minute. Conor Lenihan claimed a long free from Shay Bowen, but when his shot was blocked, substitute Mossy O’Carroll was on hand to whip the ball home and leave his side trailing by 0-15 to 1-11.

Mikey Finn responded immediately, but points from Lenihan, O’Carroll and Peter O’Shea then put Erin’s in front for the first time since the third minute.

Lehane and his Cork colleague, Robbie O’Flynn, then exchanged scores, Bowen and Brion Saunderson exchanged saves and Erin’s Own still led by one going into the final quarter.

From there Lehane steered Midleton home. Finn’s third of the day also helped, as Erin’s Own just ran out of gas and only landed two points in that final quarter through O’Flynn and O’Carroll. It wasn’t enough.

O’Flynn gave Erin’s Own an early lead, but it was Midleton, with the wind at their backs who looked far sharper. Points from Finn, Luke O’Farrell and Lehane put them ahead before Barry Óg Murphy made it a one-point game after ten minutes.

Of concern for the Magpies was the fact that they had already hit six wides, but as the half progressed, their accuracy improved.

As ever, Lehane and O’Farrell were key to that improvement. They clipped another score each as did Alex Quirke and Pa White while scores from Lenihan, James O’Carroll and O’Flynn meant that Erin’s Own trailed by 0-7 to 0-5 at the end of the opening quarter.

Two more from Lehane, and O’Farrell’s third made it double scores after twenty minutes, but Erin’s Own, as ever, refused to let the game slip away from them.

Back-to-back scores from O’Flynn had the margin back to three, then Cormac Beausang opened his account and Lehane brought his tally to 0-6 with two placed balls to put the Magpies back in control.

However, back-to-back frees from O’Flynn, again, made it 0-13 to 0-9 at the break.

They made hard work of it from there, but they got the job done.

Scorers for Midleton: C Lehane (0-14, 0-8 frees, 0-1 ’65), M Finn and L O’Farrell (0-3 each), A Quirke, P White and C Beausang (0-1 each).

Scorers for Erin’s Own: R O’Flynn (0-9, 0-5 frees), M O’Carroll (1-2), C Lenihan and P O’Shea (0-2 each), J O’Carroll and B Óg Murphy (0-1 each).

MIDLETON: B Saunderson; S Smyth, L Dineen, C Smyth; S O’Meara, T O’Connell, E Moloney; M Finn, P Haughney; R O’Regan, A Quirke, C Lehane; C Beausang, P White, L O’Farrell.

Subs: D Cremin for O’Regan and S Quirke for Haughney (both 39), P Connaughton for Beausang (42).

ERIN’S OWN: S Bowen; C Dunphy, S Broderick, C O’Connor; J Sheehan, C Dooley, B Óg Murphy; P O’Shea, C McDonnell; M O’Riordan, T Foley, J O’Carroll; C Lenihan, S Irwin, R O’Flynn.

Subs: M O’Carroll for O’Riordan (h/t), C O’Callaghan for Irwin (51), R O’Regan for Sheehan (53), E Murphy for J O’Carroll (56).

Referee: Simon Stokes (Tullylease).