Youghal breeze past Midleton into a semi final encounter with Killeagh

By Derek Kiely

East Cork Under 21A Football Championship
Youghal 4-11 Midleton 0-02
YOUGHAL were a different class to last years championship East Cork under 21A football winners Midleton last night in a game where the scoreline definitely didn't flatter the winners who could have got several more scores if one was to be super-critical, but nevertheless it sets up a fantastic semi final match between Youghal and Killeagh.
Ironically Midleton scored first on the fourth minute when Niall Madden pointed with a well taken distance point, but after that Youghal ran Midleton ragged with score after score.
The first score for Youghal was a three pointer when the excellent Adrian Curtin kicked a ball in, and the keeper failed to control it and young Colin Keenaghan reacted first to raise the green flag with a very good opportunistic shot.
Curtin then added two pointed free's for Youghal and after the 14th minute the Youghal boys led by four points. Dale Donoghue pointed from play two minutes later and then a penalty was awarded to Youghal on the 18th minute and was brilliantly despatched by Curtin to increase Youghal's lead to eight points.
Youghal missed several score-able chances in the following minutes, but then a two minute spell produced a Curtin point and two pointed scores from James O'Mahony all from play to give the sea-siders a ten point lead at the short whistle.
The game was over as a contest at this stage, but Youghal pressed on for more scores, with Aaron O'Connor scoring on the 36th minute. Midleton's only other score was a point by Paul Houghney shortly after, but then Youghal pressed on with a point from O'Mahony and a goal from Dale Donoghue in the space of a minute.
Curtin then added two further points and a goal to give a Youghal 20 point lead, before second half substitute Killian Daly wrapped up proceedings with a point from play on the 55th minute.
Scorers for Youghal: A Curtin 2-5 (2f) D Donoghue 2-1, J O'Mahony 0-3, A O'Connor and K Daly 0-1 each.
Midleton: N Madden and P Houghney 0-1 each.
YOUGHAL: S O'Sullivan; D Power, A Kenny, M O'Flaherty; R O'Sullivan, M Ó Cronin, P O'Sullivan; D Twomey, A Frahill-O'Connor; A O'Connor, J O'Mahony (Cpt) A Curtin; C Keenaghan, D Donoghue, V Cahill.
Subs: T Coleman for R O'Sullivan (29) B Donoghue for C Keenaghan and J Cahill for V Cahill (42) K Daly for A O'Connor (53)
MIDLETON: D O'Keeffe (Cpt); K Kennedy, N O'Regan, B O'Sullivan; M Belle, L Coughlan, N Madden; P Umaga, P Mahony; K Krucel, I Kenefick, P Houghney; T Wallace, K Burke, O Belle.
Subs: P Farrell for P Mahony (30) C Swayne for O Belle (40)
Referee: Mick Walsh (St. Catherine's)