Strong finish sees Sarsfields land Cork crown

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