Ballyhea’s campaign ends in

Midleton 4-23 Ballyhea 1-13

BALLYHEA’S hopes of advancing to the knockout stages of the Co-op SuperStores Cork Premier SHC came to an end at Fermoy on Friday night as they were outclassed by Midleton.

Having lost to Douglas in their first game, the Magpies – playing in white change shirts against the black of their namesakes – needed a victory to stay in contention but, while they led by five points at two different stages in the first half, they were reeled in by the East Cork side, who pulled clear after half-time.

A devastating spell in the opening ten minutes of the second half saw Midleton score four goals, with Cork star Conor Lehane getting three of them as he finished with 3-11.

With Sarsfields beating Douglas on Saturday, they are now on four points with Midleton and Douglas on two each and Ballyhea yet to register. Even a win against Sars would be insufficient to put them in the quarter-final spots but they still have something to play for in order to avoid finishing as one of the two worst fourth-placed teams, which would necessitate having to play in a relegation play-off.

Midleton might have had a goal from the off as Conor Lehane burst through the middle to create an opening for Luke O’Farrell but Mikey Browne was quick off his line to avert the danger.

Even so, Midleton were in control as they pushed into a 0-4 to 0-2 lead by the eighth minute thanks to a Pa White’s point. However, Pa O’Callaghan got his third and fourth frees of the evening to tie the game, the latter from his own 45, and then he set up Tom Hanley for a 14th-minute goal.

Midfielder Caoleann Cox put them four in front and though Lehane’s third point for Midleton cut the deficit, they went into the water-break 1-6 to 0-5 to the good after Hanley’s point. Midleton almost managed a goal just before the stoppage, but Sam Quirke fired into the side-netting and they should have had one just after the resumption but Luke O’Farrell missed the target, too.

After Ballyhea captain Eugen O’Leary put them five clear, Midleton failed to avail of a third goal chance as Mikey Browne saved well from Tommy O’Connell. Five minutes before half-time, there was still a five-point deficit, O’Callaghan making it 1-8 to 0-6, but Midleton found an extra gear from there to the break.

They outscored their opponents by 0-5 to 0-1, Lehane with three points as Luke O’Farrell and Cormac Beausang found the target too, and just a point separated the sides at the

1-9 to 0-11.

In the first minute of the second half, Midleton took the lead for the first time 11th minute of the opening period. When a delivery by corner-back Killian Burke was won well by Tommy O’Connell, he found his route to goal illegally blocked, with a penalty resulting, and Lehane fired home.

A second goal almost followed immediately but Browne saved from Beausang, however Lehane pushed Midleton four clear with two more points before O’Connell set him up for a second goal and a seven-point lead.

In the 35th minute, that became ten as Beausan was the creator for Pa White to fire to the net. When Lehane got his third and Midleton’s fourth goal in the 40th minute, it was 4-14 to 1-10.

From there, it was a procession for the victors, who continued to send over points which could yet prove crucial if this group is to be decided on scorinterval,