Sarsfields see off Midleton to land fourth Cork Hurling League Division 1 title in a row

FOUR-IN-A-ROW: Sarsfields' Jack O'Connor raises the Denis Conroy cup with Pat Horgan, chairman Cork county board. Pic: Eddie O'Hare.

Sarsfields 2-17 Midleton 2-16

While the winning margin could have been greater, Sarsfields made it four RedFM Hurling League titles in a row as they saw off Midleton at Páirc Shéamuis de Barra in Carrigtwohill on Friday night.

With the clock showing 56 minutes, the scoreboard showed 2-15 to 1-12 in Sars’ favour, but competitiveness never died in the closing stages – Midleton kept the scoreboard ticking, even allowing for a late scrap that led to David Cremin being red-carded.

Deep in injury time, Sars’ lead was still four points but with the last action, Conor Lehane capitalised on slack defending to fire home a brilliant goal. It gave him a tally of 2-11, but no chance of an equaliser materialised and Sars retained possession of the Conroy Cup.

The conditions were pleasant for the sizeable crowd perched on the bank, though for the players it would be fair to say that things were verging on stifling and perhaps allows a justification for a first half that featured 17 scores and 15 wides.

The most important of those scores were the two Sars goals that arrived in quick succession in the opening half’s nascent stages.

After Killian McDermott and Barry O’Flynnn had shared the opening tow points, it was O’Flynn who struck for a lovely goal, taking a pass from Killian Murphy and slaloming through the cover before firing beyond Brion Saunderson.

That was followed almost immediately by Murphy raising the green flag – he secured possession from a scramble close to goal and there was no saving a shot that flew to the top corner.

Midleton did conjure a strong initial response with points from Mikey Finn and Conor Lehane (two frees) but the three-point deficit that they created was the lowest that would pertain at any stage until the very end.

While Sars were guilty of some wayward shooting, they were getting in enough efforts so as to ensure some return, with wing-back Bryan Murphy firing over a beauty after a Jack O’Connor turnover.

Work rate from the front was a constant theme for the Riverstown side, while the deployment of Colm McCarthy as a third midfielder and the positional sense of captain Conor O’Sullivan at the back ensured that loose balls were hoovered up as Midleton struggled to generate scores from play.

Late points from O’Sullivan and a Daniel Hogan free sent Sars in leading by 2-8 to 0-7 – it might have been more but for a Saunderson save from Luke Hackett – but on the restart Midleton made a big dent in that lead.

Sarsfields' Bryan Murphy clears from Midleton's Alex Quirke. Pic: Eddie O'Hare.

First, sideline dissent led to a free close to the Midleton goal being moved to the Sars 20m line – Lehane drilled a shot to the net and then a pointed free, his sixth, cut the deficit to goal.

While it took Sars nine second-half minutes to augment their account, there was no great panic from them and a pair of Hogan frees and another Bryan Murphy point restored their breathing space.

Midleton had come back to within four again when sub Conor Morley, just on, made a great catch and fired just wide, though a square-ball was belatedly called in any case.

At the other end, Luke Hackett drew another fine stop from Saunderson but points from Paul Leopold, sub Daniel Kearney and Hogan looked to sending them to a comfortable victory.

It was a bit closer for a finish, but not enough to loosen Sars’ grip.

Scorers for Sarsfields: D Hogan 0-6f, B O’Flynn 1-2, K Murphy 1-0, D Kearney, B Murphy 0-2 each, C O’Sullivan, P Leopold, C Darcy, L Hackett, J O’Connor 0-1 each.

Scorers for Midleton: C Lehane 2-11 (1-8 f), K McDermott, D Cremin 0-2 each, M Finn 0-1.

SARSFIELDS: B Graham; C O’Sullivan, E Murphy, D English; B Murphy, C Roche, P Leopold; K Murphy, D Hogan; C Darcy, J O’Connor, S O’Regan; Colm McCarthy, B O’Flynn, L Hackett.

Subs: D Kearney for O’Regan (41), L Elliott for Hackett (48), Cian McCarthy for Colm McCarthy (56).

MIDLETON: B Saunderson; L Dineen, T O’Leary Hayes, T Dunlea; K Burke, S O’Sullivan, E McGrath; M Finn, C Walsh; D Cremin, A Quirke, K McDermott; P White, C Lehane, R O’Regan.

Subs: S Smyth for O’Sullivan (half-time), E Moloney for Burke (38), C Morley for O’Regan (50), C Cronin for White, C Beausang for McGrath (both 60).

Referee: S Scanlon (Newcestown).