LIVEMidleton v Sarsfields, Cork Premier SHC final, live minute-by-minute updates

The first win of the day has gone the way of Ballinhassig. Now we switch our focus to the Premier SHC final clash of Midleton and Sarsfields. 

A general view inside the stadium before the Cork County Senior Club Hurling Championship final match between Sarsfields and Midleton at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Pic: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile

Cork Premier SHC final: Midleton 0-00 Sarsfields 0-1

7 mins: Bryan Murphy picks out a lovely pass to Cian Darcy but nothing comes of it from a Sars point of view.

5 mins: Barry O'Flynn does brilliantly to get out in front of his man and win a free for his Sars side. Colm McCarthy is standing over the placed-ball - wide.

3 mins: Some inaccuracy early on from both sides, Patrick White - for Midleton - and Donal English - for Sars - drop their respective attempts short. 

1 min: Sars open the scoring. It's a Colm McCarthy free. 

3.16pm: Game on. 

3.15pm: With Amhrán na bhFiann now concluded, Colm Lyons and his team of match officials await the players in take their positions.

3.11pm: Pre-match parade now underway. Throw-in fast approaching. 

3.05pm: Here are the thought's of Sars boss Johnny Crowley: 

3pm: Conor Lehane's absence from the decider is confirmed. He is down at pitch level wearing a protective boot. 

2.55pm: Here's Eoghan Cormican's preview of the clash: 

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

2.50pm: Switching our focus to the main event of the Cork hurling calendar, Midleton meet Sarsfields in the Premier Senior decider. 

Here are the thoughts of Midleton boss Michéal Keohane on facing a familiar foe in Sarsfields.

Full time score: Cork Premier Intermediate HC final - Ballincollig 1-19 Ballinhassig 2-22

Full-time: Patrick O'Mahony blows the full-time whistle. The Ger Collins-led Ballinhassig win by six. Senior hurling awaits.

62 mins: Ballinhassig more than happy to foul any and all oncoming Ballincollig attackers.

60 mins: We'll have three minutes of added time. 

59 mins: They get one. Cian Dorgan drives at the Ballinhassig defence and attempts to find Brian Keating who is fouled. Wills hammers the free past Patrick Collins. Pearse Morris is in for the Village. Jamie Lyne in for Ballinhassig. 

Ballincollig's David O'Leary is tackled by Ballinhassig's Patrick O'Leary, Conor Desmond and Simon O'Neill. Pic: Eddie O'Hare

58 mins: Ballincollig needs goals. And fast. 

57 mins: Evan Cullinane grabs his third of the day after his hald-time introduction. Wills responds with two Ballincollig frees. Nine is the gap now.

54 mins: Another Ballinhassig goal, and a very well-worked one too. Darragh O'Sullivan's delivery into Sean Lombard is a good one, who then feeds an overlapping Conor Desmond who finishes low into the bottom corner.

52 mins: Sean Lombard has a go at Linehan's Ballincollig goal from an acute angle, but the 'keeper is equal to it and deflects it wide. Ger Collins knocks over the 65. 

51 mins: Two huge Ballinhassig scores - courtesy of Conor Desmond and Ger Collins puts a bit of daylight between the sides heading into the last 10 minutes. Six is the margin. 

48 mins: Stephen Wills taps over a straight-forward free to cut the gap to three but Michael Collins quickly stretches it to four once more. Ballincollig captain Cian Dorgan is in for Adam Wills. 

46 mins: Penalty Ballinhassig. Ballincollig 'keeper Linehan gathers but is robbed by Lombard and the ball falls to a waiting Michael Collins. Linehan fouls the full-forward. From the resulting penalty, Ger Collins makes absolutely no mistake.

44 mins: Big score from Ballinhassig sub Sean Lombard.

43 mins: Wills takes a heavy hit of Donncha O'Donovan's hurley but gathers himself to fire over another free - this time from 45 metres out. All square. Adam O'Sullivan has entered the fray. He heads straight for the Ballinhassig inside line.

41 mins: Stephen Wills does the necessary from a placed-ball. Gap now down to one. 

Another Ballincollig sub being made - Mark Oldham, named to start, i in for Theo Morgan. 

Ballincollig's Fenton Denny is tackled by Ballinhassig's Ger Collins. Pic: Eddie O'Hare

39 mins: And another for Keating. Another fine score over his left shoulder - his fifth. Lead cut to two. Subs being made by both sides. Sean Lombard is in for Ballinhassig, while James Dwyer comes into the Ballincollig side in place of Barry Coleman. 

37 mins: Shane McCarthy swaps points with Keating. 

36 mins: Cullinane grabs another, but it's cancelled out by a Brian Keating point. 

34 mins: Sean O'Neill finds a vital reply for Ballincollig. 

33 mins: Really fast start for the men in blue. A Ger Collins free is followed by a successful 65 from the same man. Just on, Evan Cullinane pops over a fine score. 

30 mins: Second half underway, and Ballinhassig have made two changes at the interval, Donnvha O'Donovan and Evan Cullinane are on in place of Jack Grainger and James O'Callaghan. 

Half-time: Ballinhassig lead by the minimum. 

30+1 mins: Free given in favour of Ballinhassig. Ballincollig contingent not happy with that one. It allows Ger Collins to get another - his sixth - and sends Ballinhassig down the tunnel with a one-point lead. 

29 mins: Ballincollig march up the field and grab two points in quick succession. Keating and Stephen Wills. It's Wills' fifth of the afternoon. 

28 mins: Big save from Ballincollig 'keeper James Linehan. Michael Collins beats Brian Dore to the ball inside but Linehan is equal to his batted finish. 

27 mins: Sean O'Neill is rewarded for some hard running with a fine point. Was the goal on? O'Neill was happy to take the point. 

25 mins: Stephen Wills finds the posts once more for Ballincollig - this time from play. He's having a big impact on the game for the men in green and white. Ger Collins finds the Ballinhassig reply shortly after to keep their lead at three points.

22 mins: Goal chance for Ballincollig after fine play from David O'Leary, who eventually finds Cian O'Driscoll, but the inside forward is crowded out of it.

21 mins: Ger is standing over another free, this time under the south stand on the halfway line. It's good. Ballinhassig's lead stretched to three.

19 mins: Closer in, Ger Collins lands another. Ballinhassig up two now. 

17 mins: Stephen Wills misses a free and Cork No. 1 Patrick Collins nails a monster free a minute later. 

1 5 mins: Ballinhassig's Michael Collins gets on the board. He deals with the high ball and sticks it over James Linehan's crossbar. All square. 

13 mins: A Ballincollig man is fouled out by the north stand and again, Wills makes no mistake from the resulting free, but it's quickly answered by a fine Conor Desmond score.

11 mins: Cork senior hurler Darragh O'Sullivan storms into the game with a huge score from long-range. Ballincollig's lead cut to a point. Sean O'Neill bursts through at the other end, but his shot is wide of Patrick Collins' post. 

9 mins: Fintan O'Leary grabs a great score for Ballinhassig after good creative play from Ger Collins. 

7 mins: Collins slots over another - again from a placed ball, but Sean O'Neill finds an instant reply for Balllincollig.

5 mins: Ger Collins has another chance, this time from much further out, but he doesn't quite connect and it sails wide.

3 mins: Brian Keating is on the scoresheet. Named at midfield, he's playing further forward. 

Ger Collins gets Ballinhassig up and running. Solid free to start his afternoon. 

1 min: Ballincollig with the opening two scores of the game. Stephen Wills opens his account from a placed ball and midfielder Theo Morgan follows with a fine score from play.

1.15pm: Referee Patrick O'Mahony throws the ball in. Game on. 

1.10pm: Team news - Two changes to Baliincollig's starting 15 named in the programme, with Stephen Wills and Sean O'Neill coming into the side in place of captain Cian Dorgan and Mark Oldham.

Ballincollig: J Linehan; F Denny, J Murray, B Dore; B Coleman, D O'Sullivan, D O'Leary; B Keating, T Morgan; S Wills, T O'Connell, D O'Mahony; A Wills, C O'Driscoll.

Ballinhassig: P Collins; C Kirby, K Maguire, P O'Leary; J O'Callaghan, Darragh O'Sullivan, C Desmond; C Grainger, E Lombard; J Grainger, S McCarthy, S O'Neill; M Collins, F O'Leary, G Collins.

Darragh O'Sullivan, Ballinhassig and Fenton Denny, Ballincollig. Pic: Jim Coughlan.

1.05pm: Here's Eoghan Cormican's preview of the Premier Intermediate decider: 

Half of Ballinhassig’s starting forward unit - Adam O’Sullivan, Brian Lynch, and Evan Cullinane - missed the semi-final win over Cloyne because of injury. This young trio, to emphasise their value, contributed 2-6 in Ballinhassig’s 4-13 to 0-19 opening round win over tomorrow’s opponents. Lynch is definitely ruled out, while there are hopes locally O’Sullivan and Cullinane might play some role.

2023 All-Ireland U20 winner James Dwyer came on at half-time in Ballincollig’s semi-final win for what was his first involvement of this championship. He’s a trump card to have in reserve. Cian Dorgan doesn’t appear to be a similar reserve option given he wasn’t able to partake in last Sunday’s football semi. Ronan Curran’s involvement has brought a more authoritative air to this Ballincollig side.

Verdict: Ballincollig

1pm: Ballinhassig are back at the big show. Back in 2012, they shared the big day with Sarsfields too, a portent of things to come, perhaps? - John Coleman. 

12.55pm: Welcome back to another Examiner Sport liveblog - we'll talk you through all the action from both the Cork Premier Intermediate HC decider between Ballincollig and Ballinhassig and the Premier Senior final meeting of Midleton and Sarsfields. 

Throw-in in the opener at Supervalu Páirc Uí Chaoimh is at 1.15pm, while the second clash of the day is down for 3.15pm.