Barnhall take the points after Midleton push the self-destruct button

Midleton 10 Barnhall 25

Midleton will be disappointed, not just at the margin of defeat, but in the manner in which they self-destructed in the third quarter after they crept 10-7 ahead.

The east Cork side had plenty of possession but just couldn’t make the metres count and Barnhall, having soaked up the pressure, were well up to taking the game and the points.

More than most, they can thank brothers Eoin and Conor Burke, who were easily the most impressive players on the heavy pitch. Eoin scored the opening try of the game in eight minutes and his brother converted to make it 7-0 for the visitors.

It was no help to Midleton that Eamon Ronan missed three consecutive penalties but they did had the distinction of grabbing a try from Kieran Wall at a crucial stage late in that first half, and this time Ronan converted.

The Midleton out half struck them in front early in the second half, but despite constant pressure they were unable to push that advantage home.

Instead, Barnhall grew in confidence after scrum half Burke kicked the equalising penalty with 15 minutes to go.

Inside two more minutes, Robbie Erasmus snatched a try and number nine Burke converted for a 17-10 lead.

With eight minutes to go, Conor Burke kicked a penalty and in the closing few minutes Myles O’Reilly sealed a memorable Barnhall victory with a beautiful individual try.

The upshot of it all is that Barnhall move back up the table into joint second.

MIDLETON: L. O’Toole, E. Tobin, B. Morris, A. O’Neill, K. Wall, E. Ronan, D. Urlich, K. Brierly, D. Lee, R. McArdle, M. Cullinane (captain), A. McCarthy, M. O’Connell, G. Lynch, S. Buckley.

BARNHALL: M. Lax, P. Burke, G. Brown, O. Myles, R. Greggs, C . Burke, E. Burke, J. Hannon, H. Hodson, P. Sewell, J. Lark, G. Boland, B. Murray, R. Erasmus, S. Darragh.

REFEREE. D. Armstrong (Ulster).