Sars will turn up, can Midleton plug gaps?

If Conor Lehane doesn’t feature, will Micheál Keohane be tempted to fill that talent and experience deficit by handing Luke O’Farrell his first start since the second round of group action? 

Midleton players Conor Lehane, Alex Quirke and Patrick White celebrate their win over Blackrock. Pic: Dan Linehan

The picture is completely skewed by the confirmed absence of in-form Midleton full-back Eoin Moloney and the likely absence of always-in-form Midleton centre-forward Conor Lehane.

And so before we even begin to look at Sars versus Midleton, we must first look at how Midleton will readjust to those not available.

Luke Dineen was at full-back for last year’s campaign, so is he now redeployed from right half-back into the vacant No.3 shirt? Or might either of Séadnaidh Smyth or Seán O’Sullivan, corner-back and full-back respectively for the ‘23 final defeat to Sars, be parachuted off the bench and back into the full-back line?

Further up, and if Lehane doesn’t feature, will Micheál Keohane be tempted to fill that talent and experience deficit by handing Luke O’Farrell his first start since the second round of group action? 

Or, could management opt for two defensive alterations and return forward-turned-half-back Ross O’Regan to where he made his name locally?

A lot of questions there to be answered.

Where there is certainty is that Sars will show up, put in a performance, and not panic. That has become their badge of honour.

For their performance to put silverware on the team bus, there are a couple of necessities. Cillian Roche, as he did in the company of Brian Hayes, breaking even with whatever full-forward threat stands beside him. Daniel Hogan and Killian Murphy curtailing Midleton midfielder Mikey Finn from buzzing about the place with his usual enterprise. Jack O’Connor, Cian Darcy, and Barry O’Flynn conjuring and compiling the moments of class.

In the background of their run to a third consecutive county final was a comprehensive county minor final win and their intermediates reaching their own county semi-final. Sars are thriving at present. An eighth Cork crown will be further proof of that.

Verdict: Sars