Sarsfields’ first-half blitz sees off Midleton in U21 C HC
home / Sarsfields’ first-half blitz sees off Midleton in U21 C HC
Sarsfields’ first-half blitz sees off Midleton in U21 C HC
- Nov 15,2026
Mulcahy Steel U21 C Hurling Championship semi-final
Sarsfields 1-22
Midleton 1-14
By Jack McKay
Sarsfields have secured their place in the Mulcahy Steel U21 C Hurling Championship final after a first-half blitz laid the platform for victory over Midleton in Park South on Saturday.
Playing with a strong breeze in the opening half, Sars hit nine points in a purple patch which sent them in at the break leading by 12, and that cushion proved more than enough despite a strong Midleton response in the second period.
Peadar Egan opened the scoring for the hosts, but Sars took over from there and would not be led again. Adam Leahy, Conor O’Rourke and Darragh O’Connor all pointed from play before O’Rourke found the net in the sixth minute. Zach Herlihy added another to make it 1-4 to 0-1.
Liam Walsh frees and a Daniel Donovan point kept Midleton in touch, and they trailed by five after 14 minutes. But then came Sarsfields’ purple patch.
Between the 15th and 27th minutes, Sars outscored Midleton 0-9 to 0-1. Sean Gallagher landed two on the bounce, Herlihy converted two frees and a 65, and O’Rourke, Leahy, Darragh O’Callaghan and Sean King all found the target from play.
Walsh replied with a free and a 65 to leave it 1-15 to 0-6 at the break. It could have been worse for Midleton, with their opponents registering double figures in wides.
With the wind at their backs, Midleton were sharper on the restart. Walsh pointed two frees and another from play, substitute Patrick O’Dowd split the posts, and when Calum O’Brien found the net in the 38th minute, they had regained some ground.
Sars then lost captain O’Rourke to a straight red card in the final quarter, but they were unlikely to be caught, even a man down. Herlihy kept the scoreboard ticking over from placed balls and Leahy landed his third from play.
Cillian Long, who came on for Herlihy, hit two late points – one from play and one from a free – to see Sars home.
Ruairi O’Riordan and Riain McCormack had the final say for Midleton, the latter pointing with the last puck of the game, but the damage had been done in the first half.
Sarsfields now advance to the C final where they will face Castlelyons, and give themselves a chance at winning both the first and third tiers.
Scorers for Sarsfields: Z Herlihy 0-8 (0-5 f, 0-2 65), C O’Rourke 1-2, A Leahy 0-3, S King, S Gallagher, C Long (0-1 f), D O’Connor 0-2 each, D O’Callaghan 0-1.
Scorers for Midleton: L Walsh 0-7 (0-5 f, 0-1 65), C O’Brien 1-0, D Donovan 0-2, P Egan, R McCormack, P O’Dowd, S Dunlea (0-1 65), R O’Riordan 0-1 each.
Sarsfields
1. Finin O’Donovan
2. Cathal Quirke, 3. Josh McMahon, 4. Brian Galvin
5. Darragh O’Callaghan, 6. Kevin Murphy, 7. Michael Hurley
8. Adam Leahy, 9. Josh McNamara
10. Zach Herlihy, 11. Sean King, 12. Sean Gallagher
13. Cathal Galvin, 14. Darragh O’Connor, 15. Conor O’Rourke
Subs: 22. Billy O’Mahony for C Galvin, 21. Cillian Long for Herlihy, 19. Danny McCarthy for O’Connor, 23. Oisín Hurley for O’Callaghan, 17. Ruairi Dennehy for B Galvin.
Unused subs: 16. Cormac McCarthy, 18. Ben Murphy, 20. Derry Crowley, 24. Aidan McCarthy, 25. Alfie Byrne.
Midleton
1. Conor Finn
2. Adam O’Connor, 3. Braden Dunlea, 4. Jason Morley
5. Peadar Egan, 6. Scott Dunlea, 7. Riain McCormack
8. Josh Foley, 9. Niall Lang
10. Odhran Rabbitte, 11. Liam Walsh, 12. Ryan Fitzsimmons
13. Calum O’Brien, 14. Daniel Donovan, 15. Rory Nolan
Subs: 17. Odhran Dennigan for B Dunlea, 19. Ruairi O’Riordan for Foley, 18. Patrick O’Dowd for Rabbitte.
Unused sub: 16. Michael Murphy-Allegrini
Referee: Gavin Lynch-Frahill (Erin’s Own)
Note: The referee’s official record of the final score is Sarsfields 1-23, Midleton 1-13. The scorers and score listed above are as recorded by Sarsfields.
