Ballincollig bow out to
Midleton 2-25 Ballincollig 1-10
THE awesome power of Midleton hurling again came to the forefront on Sunday afternoon last at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
Their Under 21 team faced Ballincollig on the 4G field in the quarter final of the Premier (1) Under 21 County Championship. The East-Cork side entered the fray as strong favourites following their comprehensive first round victory over Na Piarsaigh, but Ballincollig who had secured an exciting one-point victory over Glen Rovers on the previous week were hoping to give a good account of themselves.
The latter did manage to stay in touch for three quarters of the game, but Midleton’s strength-in-depth came to the forefront in the final quarter to secure a comfortable victory. Playing with the wind in the opening moiety the Mid-Cork side gained an early free and Paul Cooney’s point from same gave them a boost.
Midleton replied promptly, however, and the ability of their attackers to raise flags quickly came to the forefront. Ross O’Regan, Seán O’Meara and Kevin Finn points along with two from Garen Manley, including one free, greatly enhanced their prospects of advancing.
Ballincollig fought back and two pointed frees by Cooney kept them in touch. They were dealt a sucker punch in the sixteenth minute when Tommy O’Connell, one of the big names in the Midleton line-up, created a goal-scoring opportunity for a colleague.
O’Connell, who was playing second fiddle to his immediate opponent, Fenton Denny, found Sean O’Meara with a