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MIDDLETOWN STORM TO ALL-IRELAND FINAL

Tuesday, 24 January 2012

Middletown 3-14 Effin (Limerick) 2-10.

ARMAGH'S rise in the country's hurling standings continues to hurtle towards the stratosphere, well that was the feeling emanating from Birr on Sunday as Middletown defied the odds and claimed their place in the Intermediate All-Ireland Club Hurling Final.
The Armagh Champions tore Limerick side Effin apart in the opening half with a rampant performance and a game that will live long in the memory with anyone associated with Middletown.
Middletown play Mount Leinster Rangers in the All-Ireland Final on Saturday, February 11.
Sunday's game was undoubtedly the finest display by a Middletown side for many years and the intensity and speed with which they played the game left the Limerick side reeling and they could not match the skill levels and tempo of the Middletown game plan.
On a near perfect day for hurling Middletown played with a breeze in the first half and they started the game at whirlwind speed.
Kieran McKernan, Paddy McBride and Barney McCann set the example in the middle third and the rest of the team followed suit, so much so, that the first half was over in a flash, but was packed full of great patches of play from both sides who moved the ball at pace.
An early shot from Martin Moan drifted wide but Middletown soon opened their account when good work out the field by Kieran McKernan released David Carvill and his pass set up Ryan Gaffney. Ryan was fouled and David Carvill pointed. Paddy McBride was mopping up loose ball at midfield and when he passed to Martin Maguire on the run Martin was pulled down with David Carvill once more pointing the free. Effin were struggling to gain a foothold in the game but did manage a point from influential Thomas Quid before another foul on the rampaging Martin Maguire this time further out the field was punished by a Kieran McKernan long distance pointed free.
Nathan Curry and his defenders were carrying out their instructions to a tee with close tackling and first time deliveries into space and one such from Nathan found Cahal Carvill who bore down on goal and recycled the sliothar for Ryan Gaffney to fire over a point.
Middletown were playing hurling at this stage with such intensity and verve that Effin were shell-shocked Barney McCann, Brian Mallon, Fintan Woods and Kieran McKernan were tackling and harrying their opponents at every opportunity and Pauric Hughes and Paul Gaffney were imperious as ever - clearing their lines with clever reading and positional play. Martin Maguire was tormenting the Effin defence on the right wing and his pass into Ryan Gaffney was offloaded to Cahal Carvill who was tackled high and once more David Carvill slotted over the free.
Middletown pulled further ahead with a well-worked goal. Barney McCann found Ryan Gaffney in space and his quick delivery put Cahal Carvill in the clear near to goal and he finished to the net.
Effin replied with a point but Kieran McKernan supported well from midfield to receive a pass from Ryan Gaffney and he fired over another point.
Middletown were gathering up loose ball around the middle and Effin tried hard to take them out of position to create some chances of their own.
This ploy backfired when Middletown`s corner back Fintan Woods was first to react to a long clearance out of the Effin defence and fired over an inspiring score from outside the 65-metre line. Middletown were still on top in most parts of the field but a series of three pointed frees from the Munster champions kept them in contention coming up to the break.

Martin Maguire was fouled once more on collecting a puck out and David Carvill pointed the free with ten minutes to go to half time. Paudie Moan showed his value to the team with a stunning point blank save followed by good cover from Fintan Woods as the Effin corner forward bore down on goal and this was to prove crucial to protect the lead and the hard work done in this half.
Middletown was interchanging Ryan Gaffney and David Carvill between half and full forwards and keeping up the tempo of the game throughout the field. Martin Maguire got a point from out on the wing -reward for a strong first half performance.
Half-time: Middletown1-09 Effin 0-06.
Effin are known as a second half team as their display in the Munster final proved, so Middletown knew that they would have to work hard to defend their lead.
The sides traded points before the accuracy of Kieran McKernan`s passing created two stunning goals that rocked St Brendan`s Park. McKernan fired in a long cross-field pass into space for Martin Moan to collect; he outstripped his marker and cut in from the wing to smash the sliothar to the net.
Moments later McKernan passed inside to Conor McCann who played a clever one-two with Ryan Gaffney to cut open the defence and McCann fired to the net to open up a 12-point lead.
Brian Mallon, Nathan Curry and Fintan Woods were providing good cover in defence but Effin worked their way through for a goal.
The Effin supporters were on their feet moments later when their side raced through and cracked home another goal.
Middletown knew they were going to be asked serious questions with the score-line at 3-11 to 2-08 and 15 minutes to go.
The tackling and pace of the game was unrelenting and Middletown showed the character that was needed to see out the game. Effin added two more scores but could not get past Paudie Moan again as Kieran McKernan, Paddy McArdle, Paddy McBride and Paul Gaffney stood firm.
Shea Gaffney and Ned McCann were giving Middletown new options in attack and Ned`s bravery in plucking a high ball out of the sky and setting up Martin Moan for a point edged Middletown neared to safety.
Paul Curry and JJ Hughes refreshed the side when introduced and it was fitting that Middletown finished the game with a piece of sublime skill from College All-Star Shea Gaffney who pointed from a narrow angle, to seal a famous victory for Middletown.
MIDDLETOWN: P Moan, B Mallon, P Hughes, F Woods 0-1, K McKernan 0-2, N Curry, P Gaffney, P McBride, B McCann, M Maguire 0-1, C McCann 1-0, David Carvill 0-4, R Gaffney 0-2, C Carvill 1-0, and M Moan 1-2. Subs: N McCann, P McArdle, S Gaffney 0-1, JJ Hughes, P Curry, L Woods, K Hughes, S McCann and J McKernan.

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