East Cork GAA

Martin O'Brien Match Report

Blackrock bridged a fifteen year gap in Pairc Ui Rinn on Saturday last when in the Ulster Bank Co Premier Minor Hurling Championship Final they overcame the strong challenge of Midleton.

In what was an entertaining contest Midleton played with the aid of the wind in the opening half and with three pointed frees from Conor Lehane and one from play by Paul Haughney they swept into a four point lead by the 8^th minute. A minute later Blackrock opened their account with a neat point from Donal Cremin only to see Midleton maintain their advantage with another pointed free from Lehane. Blackrock through the efforts of Mark Ryan, Dylan Stokes, Elliot Cantwell, Eoin O’Meara, Eoin O’Farrell, John Fitzgerald, Donal Cremin and Patrick Deasy were beginning to get more into the game and after Deasy pointed a ’65 a long delivery from O’Farrell found Deasy on the wing and after weaving his way through the Midleton defence he finished the ball to the net to see the sides on level terms 1-02 to 0-05 by the 19^th minute. Points from Haughney and Lehane (free) edged Midleton in front with Michael Ahern replying for the ‘Rockies and with Lehane and Shane O’Keeffe exchanging points the “East Cork” side went in at the break leading by the bare minimum 0-08 to 1-04.

On the resumption Blackrock, now with the wind to their backs, took the game to their opponents and after three minute were on level terms when John Fitzgerald swung over a great point. Haughney replied with a similar score for Midleton but Blackrock were now in a more determined mood and with Eoin O’Farrell coming into his own in midfield leading the charge sending over a long range free he put his side into the lead for the first time in the 45^th minute with a superb effort. After Deasy converted a ’65 it was now felt that Blackrock had their opponent’s measure but Midleton, for whom all but two of the side are underage next year, were not to give up without a battle and with Killian Burke, Finbarr O’Mahony. Patrick O’Mahony, Ian Kenefick, Haughney and Lehane leading by example they upped the tempo of the game. Points from Lehane, Cormac Walsh and Daniel Morrissey saw them regain the lead as the game was entering its final phase but Blackrock were alive to the danger and got the break they needed when a line ball taken by Fitzgerald sailed across the gaol and got the neatest of flicks form Deasy to divert it to the net. A point from Kennefick left one between the sides but sadly for them that was to be their last score of the game as Blackrock upped a gear and with two points from Ahern and one apiece from O’Farrell, Fitzgerald and Cremin they finished on a high to take the title on the final scoreline of 2-13 to 0-13.

After the game the cup was presented to the winning captain, Mark Ryan, by Jim Healy, Runai of the Cork Co Minor Board in the presence of Diarmuid O’Donovan, Chairman of the Cork Co Minor Board amid great scenes of jubilation.

Scorers: Blackrock Patrick Deasy 2-02 (0-02 ‘65s); Eoin O’Farrell 0-03 (0-02

frees); Michael Ahern 0-03 (0-01 free); Donal Cremin

0-02; John Fitzgerald 0-02; Shane O’Keeffe 0-01.

Midleton Conor Lehane 0-07 (0-06 frees); Paul Haughney 0-03;

Cormac Walsh, Daniel Morrissey and Ian Kenefick

0-01 each.

Teams: Blackrock Paul O’Brien; James Heylin, Mark Ryan (Capt.), Andrew

Hayes; Dylan Stokes, Elliot Cantwell, Eoin O’Meara; Eoin

O’Farrell, Luke Conway; John Fitzgerald, Paul Bennett,

Shane O’Keeffe; Donal Cremin, Patrick Deasy, Michael

Ahern.

Sub: Kevin O’Keeffe for Paul Bennett

Midleton Coran Swayne; Leslie Coughlan, Killian Burke, Niall

O’Regan; Patrick White, Finbarr O’Mahony, Patrick

O’Mahony; Paul Haughney (Capt.). Phillip O’Neill;

Cormac Walsh, Ian Kenefick, Conor Lehane; Tommy

Wallace, Stephen Moore, Daniel Morrissey.

Referee: Diarmuid Kirwin (Eire Og)