Myers steps up at the death to ensure champions Sarsfields' return to Cork decider

Sarsfields will meet Imokilly in the decider in a fortnight.

THAT WINNING FEELING: James Sweeney, Sarsfields jumps for joy after Aaron Myers scored the winning point. Pic: Dan Linehan

Cork Premier SHC semi-final: Sarsfields 0-22 Midleton 0-21 

Aaron Myers’ additional time score, his third of the game, has sent champions Sarsfields into the premier senior county final.

With his 13th point, Conor Lehane’s free had restored parity for Midleton only for Ben Nodwell to catch the subsequent puck-out. He fed Jack O’Connor who in turn supplied Myers for the crucial point.

Down 0-9 to 0-12 at the interval in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Sarsfields had to be the more eager side and twice they shaved the deficit to two in the opening five minutes of the half, the second from a Daniel Hogan 65 after Bríon Saunderson had parried away a James Sweeney strike at goal.

It was Sweeney who brought Sarsfields within a point in the 37th minute only for Lehane to fizz over his ninth point. Sweeney, however, did square the game five minutes later when he made the most of a purposeful Cian Darcy solo run.

The lead changed hands once more when Bryan Murphy, who had his hands full keeping tabs on Lehane, landed a mammoth score. Myers and Hogan (free) lengthened the margin to three points.

A brace of Lehane frees made life uneasy for Sarsfields but only momentarily as Luke Elliott fired over his fourth point and Hogan his second from play to restore that margin.

A hat-trick of Midleton scores then brought the 2021 champions level only for Hogan to capitalise with his sixth free. But back came Midleton once more and a wild swing was punished for Lehane before Myers’ last-gasp winner.

TIGHT AFFAIR: Midleton players Patrick White and Sam Quirke looking to stop Conor O'Sullivan, Sarsfields in their Co-Op Superstores Premier SHC match at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork. Pic: Dan Linehan

So slick was their start to the game, Sarsfields didn’t appear to be the team twiddling their thumbs these past four weeks. They manufactured the first couple of points of the game and following a Lehane free added another three on the bounce, including a monster point from Luke Elliott, to jump into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead by the 10th minute.

Sweeney was proving to be a great target man inside for Sarsfields and he had to be fouled to be stopped finding the net in the ninth minute. Hogan penalised the transgression and then added a fine score from under the South Stand.

Lehane’s marksmanship was keeping Midleton in touch. Up to the 20th minute when David Cremin scored to bring The Magpies to within a point, Lehane had been the only scorer. Between the 13th and 15th minutes, he split the posts three times in response to a Shane O’Regan effort that had been created by Sweeney.

Another booming Elliott point put three between the teams in the 18th minute but it was a rare success for Sarsfields as they strung together five wides in six minutes.

While their midfielder Darcy drove over another score from distance, his team-mates appeared to be taking turns to send the ball either side of the Blackrock End posts.

Midleton sniffed some doubt and raised the next six white flags. Luke O’Farrell’s opener was followed by a sumptuous Lehane point from close to his left-hand sideline to level the game. 

After he converted another free in the 25th minute to put his side ahead for the first time, Ross O’Regan and Eoin Moloney made the most of the platform created by their superior half-back line.

Lehane’s fourth free of the afternoon propelled Midleton into a deserving four-point advantage before his old Cork colleague Daniel Kearney stemmed some of the bleeding for Sarsfields with an additional time point, Sarsfield’s first score in nine minutes.

Scorers for Sarsfields: D. Hogan (0-9, 6 frees, 1 65); L. Elliott (0-4); A. Myers (0-3); J. Sweeney (0-2); S. O’Regan, C. Darcy, D. Kearney, B. Murphy (0-1 each).

Scorers for Midleton: C. Lehane (0-13, 7 frees, 2 65s); R. O’Regan (0-2); D. Cremin, L. O’Farrell, E. Moloney, P. White, A. Quirke, C. Beausang (0-1 each).

SARSFIELDS: D. McCarthy; P. Leopold, C. Leahy, C. O’Sullivan (c); B. Murphy, E. Murphy, L. Elliott; C. McCarthy, C. Darcy; A. Myers, J. O’Connor, D. Kearney; S. O’Regan, J. Sweeney, D. Hogan.

Subs for Sarsfields: C. McCarthy for D. Kearney (temp, 46-51), (permanent 56); B. Nodwell for S. O’Regan (59).

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

Subs for Midleton: C. Beausang for P. White, P. Haughney for M. Finn (both 46).

Referee: C. O’Regan (Ballyhea).