Newcestown dig deep to rebound and hold Midleton in Cork Premier SHC
Conor Lehane of Midleton with Gearoid O'Donovan, Newcestown. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
A deserved share of the spoils for Newcestown in the Co-Op Superstores Cork Premier SHC at Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday, Their backs were to the wall after succumbing to a disappointing 11-point defeat to Charleville a fortnight ago, but there was no shortage of heart and steel displayed in this round 2 match.
Especially in the second half after they turned four points down and the breaks didn’t appear to be going their way.
They regained a slender 0-15 to 1-11 lead in the 48th minute But three times Midleton fought back to edge in front.
Each time Newcestown dug deep.
And in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage, who else but their outstanding talisman Richard O’Sullivan saved the day. It was no easy score but after linking with Cormac O’Sullivan, he executed a brilliant equalising point from the middle of the field.
Richard O’Sullivan fired an impressive 11 points overall with 10 of these from frees.
Conor Lehane struck seven for Midleton from placed balls.
All eyes will be on the Newtownshandrum and Charleville game on Sunday, with Newtownshandrum the next opponents for Newcestown in Group 2.
Midleton are still in a very good position with three points from two games, and have Charleville yet to play.
A Richard O’Sullivan free opened the scoring for Newcestown in the first minute, but straight from a monster Bríon Saunderson puck-out that landed on the 20m line Midleton replied with a goal when wing-forward Tommy O’Connell whipped first time to the net.
Newcestown set up with Luke Meade as a free man and Gearóid O’Donovan falling back to pick up Conor Lehane, and it was Meade settled his team with their second point David Buckley had them on level terms after five minutes - Buckley would finish with four points to his name.
The Magpies were one ahead when they got a great chance of a second goal but Luke O’Farrell’s shot was brilliantly saved by Cathal Wilson and the follow-up from Patrick White went wide.
Newcestown remained focused and regained the lead through an O’Sullivan free and one from play by Buckley.
Midleton drove on in the second quarter, a feature of their play was Bríon Saunderson’s puck-outs with the wind, they travelled the length of the pitch.
Through six different scorers the champions of 2021 regained the lead, 1-9 to 0-8 at half time.
Newcestown outscored them five points to one inside the first 10 minutes of the second half with O’Sullivan, Luke Meade and Buckley the providers.
Lehane was the sole response from a free.
Level 1-10 to 0-13.
The scores dried up for Midleton with their second point of the half courtesy of Cormac Beausang in the 42nd minute.
Newcestown regained control again before twice Midleton hit the post.
They did, however, move ahead again through Lehane, 1-13 to 0-15.
Twice O’Sullivan levelled from frees but when Mikey Finn stole the lead in the 63rd minute, Newcestown had it all to do.
Ultimately O’Sullivan’s last gasp point ensured the honours were even.
And all to play for going forward.
C Lehane (0-7 frees), T O’Connell (1-0), M Finn and C Beausang (0-2 each), R O’Regan, D Cremin, B Saunderson (free) and P White (0-1 each).
R O’Sullivan (0-11, 0-10 frees), D Buckley (0-4), L Meade (0-2), C Dinneen (0-1).
B Saunderson; L Dineen (J-Capt), E Moloney, T O’Leary Hayes; S O’Meara, C Smyth, R O’Regan; A Quirke, M Finn; D Cremin, C Lehane (J-Capt), T O’Connell; C Beausang, L O’Farrell, P White.
Subs: C Walsh for L Dineen (43), P Connaughton for A Quirke (47).
C Wilson; J Kelleher (Capt), E Collins, M McSweeney; Colm O’Donovan, L Meade, C O’Sullivan; G O’Donovan, C Hurley; C Dinneen, R O’Sullivan, J Meade; Ciarán O’Donovan, D Buckley, S O’Sullivan.
Subs: E Kenneally for C Hurley (46), D McAree for S O’Sullivan (47), C O’Neill for C O’Donovan (57).
Referee: Niall Fahy (Bride Dillons).
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
