Cork SHC final Sarsfields 0-21 0-19 Midleton
The Seán Óg Murphy Cup is going to Glanmire for the first time since 2014 after Sarsfields defeated Midleton 0-21 to 0-19 in the final of the Co-Op Superstores Premier Senior Hurling Championship at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday afternoon.
It was an emotional finish to the season as Sars lifted the trophy while honouring club stalwart Teddy McCarthy, an inter county double winner that passed away last June.
Aaron Myers made sure this happened by putting 0-12 over the bar during the hour that was played.
Sars went into the game after eight seasons of hurt, a period that signalled the end of a golden generation that won four counties in seven seasons. The new kids on the block have already shown promise by winning the Cork Hurling League Division 1 title earlier in the season.
The Magpies were a different level of opposition altogether as they came through a 'group of death' that had Blackrock, Glen Rovers, and Bishopstown.
Midleton also faced defending champions St Finbarr’s in the semi-finals and won through a late Cormac Beausang goal after being four points down at half-time.
There was also an added twist as neither of these two clubs got out of their groups last year, and that helped create a unique sense of tension during the first half.
Midleton seemed to cope better with the occasion – and that came from a spell that saw them put over six points in a row. That followed a point for point race that involved Myers almost single handily keep Sars in the game.
That saw Midleton go 0-13 to 0-09 in front at half-time and Sars had everything to do as they had just three scorers in the first half – and Myers accounted for seven of those.
The team were transformed during the second period of play as they outmatched and out muscled Midleton in almost every position on the pitch.
That started with a burst of scores from Myers, Daniel Hogan, and Colm McCarthy. Midleton bookended that with Paul Haughney and Lehane raising white flags, and Sars respond by raising four consecutive white flags.
Beausang then split the posts and made it 0-16 apiece and that spurred on another flurry of activity at the City End at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
Three Myers’ scores and one from Cathal McCarthy was the difference as Sarsfields got it over the line, with Tadhg O’Leary Hayes bringing the game down to the final few seconds by putting the ball over the bar.
Sars came through a late push for Midleton goal to get their hands on the Seán Óg Murphy Cup.
The Cork champions will now move onto the Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship, where they will face Ballygunner at Walsh Park in Waterford on 5 November.
Midleton: Brion Saunderson; Sean O’Sullivan (0-1), Ciarmhac Smith, Seadhnaidh Smyth, Eoin Moloney, Tommy O’Connell (0-01), Sean O’Leary Hayes, Mikey Finn (0-02), Paul Haughney (0-02), Ross O’Regan (0-03), Conor Lehane (0-07, 4f), David Cremin, Cormac Beausang (0-01), Patrick White (0-01), Luke O’Farrell.
Subs: Paul Connaughton for Cremin (45), Tadhg O’Leary Hayes (0-1) for White (60),
Sarsfields: Donnacha McCarthy; Cathal McCarthy (0-04), Conor O’Sullivan, Paul Leopold, Bryan Murphy, Eoghan Murphy, Luke Elliot, Craig Leahy, Daniel Kearney (0-01), Jack O’Connor (0-02), Shane O’Regan, Cian Darcy, Daniel Hogan (0-01), Colm McCarthy (0-01), Aaron Myers (0-12, 8f).
Subs: Luke Hackett for O’Regan (44); James Sweeney for Darcy (49), Ben Nodwell for Hogan (53).
Referee: Ciaran O’Regan (Ballyhea)
