Brilliant Midleton side

cross-field delivery. O’Meara billowed the Ballincollig net so the East-Cork side were cock-a-hoop.

The Ballincollig heads did not drop however, and they attacked from the puck out. They managed to get a goal back when Ben Keohane was in the right place to whip the sliotar to the net after an effort from Evan Cooke was saved by Alec Power, the Magpies cúl baire.

Midleton had the edge in the remaining period before the break and they led 1-9 to 1-5 at the short whistle.

They were in a good position considering they would resume with the wind to their backs. Their mentors were taking no chances however and they made some changes. Tommy O’Connell was moved to centre-field and their star minor, Aaron Mulcahy, was introduced to their attack.

Ten minutes into the second moiety they had outscored their opponents 0-4 to 0-1 but Ballincollig managed one additional fight back. Cooney, Seán Walsh and Karl Walsh raised white flags, so the arrears were reduced to four points again before Cooney made an attempt to secure a major.

His effort was superbly saved however by Power, and the winners controlled the final quarter. They scored 0-12 to 0-1 and they finally wrapped things up when substitute, Connaughton, found the net following an opening created by Manley.

MIDLETON: A. Power, C. O’Brien, S. O’Sullivan, A. Daly, C. Gunning, S. O’Leary-Hayes, E. Moloney (01), S. Quirke (0-1), K. Finn (0-1), T. O’Connell (0-2, 1f, 1 ‘65), S. O’Meara (1-2), C. Farmer (0-2), P. O’Brien, R. O’Regan (0-5), G. Manley (0-8, 4f) Subs: A. Mulcahy (0-3) for P. O’Brien (half-time), P. Connaughton (1-0) for Farmer, 48, E. Mitchell for Finn, 53

BALLINCOLLIG: J. Linehan, R. O’Donovan, G. O’Donoghue, K. Spillane, S. O’Neill, J. Murray, F. Denny, R. Bourke, S. Wills, B. Keohane (1-1), C. O’Leary, E. Cooke, P. Cooney (0-5, 2f), K. Walsh (0-1), S. Walsh (0-2) Subs: S. Murphy for S. Walsh, 53, D. Dorgan (0-1) for Cooke (inj), 55

REFEREE: C Egan (Glen Rovers)