Late Midleton goal blitz sees off Newcestown in Cork U21 A hurling semi-final

Eoghan Fraser and Alex Moloney of Midleton chase down Humphrey Canty of Newcestown in the Under 21 A Hurling Championship semi final.

Cork U21AHC semi-final: Midleton 3-18 Newcestown 1-10 

Victory for Midleton in the Co-Op Superstores Cork U21AHC semi-final at the SuperValu Páirc Ui Chaoimh 4G on Sunday. 

Goals in the 58th, 61st and 62nd minutes from Dave Cremin, Peter Barrett and Alex Quirke saw them run out eventual winners by 14 points.

And while they were the more balanced team, the final scoreline does scant justice to the efforts of Newcestown who trailed by eight points at half-time.

Richard O’Sullivan’s 35th minute major, plus a run of four unanswered points, brought them to within one at the three-quarter mark, 0-14 to 1-10.

Midleton, nominated to represent east Cork, finished strong with 3-4 in the fourth quarter With the breeze at their backs, free-taker Mikey Finn who totalled 0-9, opened the scoring for Midleton through a brace of frees - although named in the full-forward line he was playing a much deeper role.

Eoghan Fraser put them three up before Richard O’Sullivan swung over a free for Newcestown in the 11th minute.

At the same time they lost attacker Fiachra Ó Donnchadha to injury, the corner forward was replaced by Flor Kenneally.

Peter Barrett and Alex Quirke increased Midleton’s advantage, and when wing-back Alex Moloney got in on the act they led 0-8 to 0-3 after 20 minutes.

Richard O’Sullivan kept Newcestown in the hunt with a couple of placed balls, but at the end of the half they had only one score from play from Ciarán J Hurley.

They went to the dressing-room 0-13 to 0-5 in arrears - Finn responsible for six of the Midleton tally.

The second half was a totally different story. Newcestown, against the wind, played with a lot more intensity. Midleton, meanwhile, were errant with their shooting. Newcestown outscored Midleton 1-5 to a point. But that was as close as they got.

Scorers for Midleton: M Finn (0-9, 0-8 frees), A Quirke and P Barrett (1-2 each), D Cremin (1-0) A Moloney, E Fraser, D Scanlon, C Stack and C Morley (0-1 each).

Scorers for Newcestown: R O’Sullivan (1-7, 0-6 frees), C J Hurley (0-2), F Kenneally (0-1).

MIDLETON: B Saunderson; T Dunlea, A Faye, C Cronin; A Moloney, C Smyth, E McCarthy; E Fraser, E McGrath; D McCarthy, A Quirke (Capt), D Cremin; M Finn, D Scanlon, P Barrett.

Subs: C Stack for D Scanlon (half-time), C Morley for D McCarthy (54), C Beausang for D Cremin (59), T O’Leary Hayes for E McGrath (62).

NEWCESTOWN: R McSweeney; P Kelly, C O’Sullivan, J Burrows; E McSweeney, J Kenneally, E Calnan (Capt); H Canty, N Kelly; D McSweeney, R O’Sullivan, O O’sullivan; F Ó Donnchadha, C O’Donovan, C J Hurley.

Subs: F Kenneally for F Ó Donnchadha (10 inj), D Flanagan for C J Hurley (45), C J Hurley for D McSweeney (56), D McSweeney for H Canty (61).

Referee: Niall Fahy (Brian Dillons).