Shandrum miss out on County U-21 hurling final

Midleton 3-14 ‘Shandrum 0-12

MIDLETON ran out worthy winners over ‘Shandrum in the County Premier 1 Under-21 HC semi-final at Pairc Ui Rinn on Saturday. Last years beaten finalists were always in control and helped by two goals inside the opening quarter it gave them a lead they would not surrender for the rest of the game. The opening stages saw ‘Shandrum take an early point when Cormac O’Brien pointed from long range.

Midleton were back on level terms in the 11th minute when Tommy O’Connell set up Sean O’Leary-Hayes for a well taken point. In Midleton’s next attack they struck for the first of their three goals when Paudie O’Brien and Garran Manley linked up well to set up Kevin Finn who netted. ‘Shandrum’s response was swift. In the 13th minute the hugely impressive Paul O’Sullivan won a great ball in the half backline and pointed from long range.

However it was the East Cork side that stretched their lead when Garran Manley finished to the net from close range at the end of the first quarter and at this stage the well equipped Midleton side looked like running out clear winners. ‘Shandrum fought back well with Kieran O’Sullivan, Darragh Hawe, Cormac O’Brien, Paul O’Sullivan, Darragh Guiney, Brian Buckley, Jack Twomey, John Geary and Conor Griffin trying very hard.

Conor Griffin had a point for the North Cork side but it was Midleton who struck a number of bad wides over the course of the game that reeled off points by Sean O’Meara (2) and Paudie O’Brien by the 26th minute to hold a 2-4 to 0-3 lead. ‘Shandrum again battled back well and a point each by Darragh Guiney and Conor Griffin kept them right in the mix when in arrears at the short whistle by 2-4 to 0-5.

On the changeover despite Conor Griffin getting the scoring underway with a free for ‘Shandrum it was Midleton that were quick into the action. In the 32nd minute Tommy O’Connell set up Ross O’Regan for a fine point with Garran Manley adding a point from a free and general play by the 37th minute that opened up s seven point game. ‘Shandrum refused to give in. They moved Cormac O’Brien to centre forward with Brian Buckley taking up a new role at centre back. O’Brien was quick to make his presence felt when in pointed in the 40th minute after receiving a good pass from Conor Griffin.

Over the next ten minutes it was very much point for point with Conor Griffin (2) Sam Quirke (2) Sean O’Meara, Cormac O’Brien, Ross O’Regan and Jack Twomey trading some fine points as Midleton maintained their two goal cushion 2-11 to 0-11. In the 52nd minute Conor Griffin reduced the gap to five points when he pointed a free.

Six minutes later the Newtownshandrum/ Dromina combination came very close to setting up a grandstand finale when Conor Griffin’s attempt at goal was well saved by the Midleton keeper Alan Power. Instead it was Midleton who were very much off target throughout the game that finally sealed their place in this years final when Paudie O’Brien finished to the net from close range. They had some very good displays by Sean O’Sullivan, Sean O’Leary-Hayes, Sean O’Meara, Sam Quirke, Tommy O’Connell, Ross O’Regan, Paudie O’Brien and Garran Manley. They added three more points in stoppage time to run out victors by an 11 point margin. MIDLETON: A Power, A Daly, S O’Sullivan, C O’Brien, E Moloney, S O’Leary-Hayes 0-1, C Gunning, T O’Connell, K Finn 1-0, C Farmer, S O’Meara 0-4, P O’Brien 1-2, G Manley 1-3 (0-1f) R O’Regan 0-2, S Quirke 0-2, Subs A Mulcahy for C Farmer, E Mitchell for S Quirke,

SHANDRRUM: E Finn, K Foley, K O’Sullivan, D Hawe, C Shanahan, C O’Brien 0-3, P O’Sullivan 0-1, D Guiney 0-1, L Morrissey, J Twomey 0-1, C Boles, B Buckley, K O’Leary, J Geary, C Griffin 0-6f, Subs A O’Leary for K O’Leary, B Pulis for D Guiney (inj), C O’Mahony for J Twomey, J McAuliffe for C Boles,

Referee Ted O’Donovan (Douglas)