The junior A hurlers followed in the footsteps of their senior counterparts by getting off to a winning start in the championship.  They travelled to Lisgoold, still to win a junior A championship match since having returned to the grade last year.  This was a lively game of hurling, despite the increasingly worsening conditions as the game wore on, due to rain showers.

The game was five minutes old before the first score was registered: Adrian Browne fielded high, offloaded to the onrushing Seán Ahern who passed to Luke Kelly O’Regan and he split the posts from the wing.  Midleton responded immediately with a goal.  Séamus Roche pointed with Adrian Browne again the provider; Browney was fouled a minute later, with Luke converting his first free of the match to level matters.  Midway through the half, Shane Murphy pulled off an incredible lunging block to avert a Midleton goal chance.  Seán Brenann opened his account after yet another Adrian Browne run and offload, with Midleton raising two white flags.  On 20 minutes, Shane yet again stood strong to block a goalward shot but was injured for his bravery and had to retire from the game.  Midleton had their noses in fromt (0-04 to 1-02) with ten minutes remaining in the half.  Luke struck two more frees over the bar and Brennan doubled his tally from 45m after Ollie Baverstock squared the ball to him.  Midleton pounced on a loose ball in the goalmouth for their second goal but Carrig responded very well in the closing stages of the half.  Adrian Browne lofted the ball over the bar from the wing.  Mark O’Connor notched a fine score on the turn.  Luke Kelly O’Regan pointed another free and then added one from play after the industrious Seán O’Sullivan played a good pass to him.  Carrigtwohill went in at half-time three points to the good on a scoreline of 0-11 to 2-02.

Midleton scored two points early in the second half to make it a one point game.  Neil Coughlan, who battled fiercely in the second half, got in a great hook to prevent a shot on goal.  Luke notched a free from 65m after the hard-working David Joseph was fouled.  Jonathan Spillane fired the ball over the bar from distance after Rochey fought for and won hard possession.  Cormac Flynn got in a great block to prevent a Magpies attack on goal.  Midleton converted two frees to again reduce the margin to a single point (0-13 to 2-06) on 42 minutes.  Carrig put the shoulder to the wheel, keeping the Magpies scoreless for the remainder of the game with Stephen O’Flynn finding the range with the puck-outs and Niall Harte foraging for ball as he was dragged out the field.  Luke Kelly O’Regan added two more frees to his name and Adrian Browne struck his second point from the wing, capping off what was a storming and energetic performance.  Two more Kelly O’Regan frees after fouls on ball winners, Séamus Roche and David Joseph finished out the scoring by the 54th minute.  Midleton pressed for goals in the closing stages.  Seán Brennan and David Rooney both pulled off super stops from close range frees to see Carrig over the line.

Well done to the panel of players and management on what was a very good win to start the championship on the right footing.  The remaining round-robin match is against Carraig na bhFear in Watergrasshill next Sunday, 13th August at 7pm.  

We wish Shane Murphy and Séamus Roche speedy recoveries from the injuries that they sustained in the match.  Sincere thanks to all the members of the senior hurling panel who assisted on the line on the evening.

Carrigtwohill Team: Stephen O’Flynn; Cormac Flynn, Shane Murphy, Niall Harte; Seán Ahern, David Rooney (captain), Neil Coughlan; Seán O’Sullivan, Jonathan Spillane (0-1); Adrian Browne (0-2), Séamus Roche (0-1), David Joseph; Seán Brennan (0-2), Luke Kelly O’Regan (0-11; 0-9f), Oliver Baverstock.  Subs Used: Mark O’Connor (0-1).  Other Subs: Chris Keegan, Jack Barrett, Jack Scully, Daragh Hannigan, Liam Scriven, Alex Kidney, Matthew, Shane O’Hanlon, Oisín Lynch, Joel Joseph.

Management: Cian Rohan (manager), Pádraic Hogan, Niall Barrett, Deccie Collins.

Referee: Shane Hodgins (Erin’s Own).