Kilmallock prove far too strong for Midleton as they book Munster final spot

Kilmallock eased past Midelton and into the Munster Senior Hurling Final with a comprehensive 0-19 to 1-9 win in the TUS Gaelic Grounds.

Micheal Houlihan was in scintillating form with 0-12, four of those coming from play.

They will now play Loughmore Casteliney or Ballygunner in the decider on January 9.

Paudie O’Brien got Kilmallock off to the perfect start with a long range effort. Seconds later Micheal Houlihan followed suit with a similar score as the Balbec made light of their seven week break.

Conor Lehane got Midleton off the mark with a free with Sean O’Meara levelling after eight minutes.

But Midleton’s next score wouldn’t come for 18 minutes as Kilmallock raced into a nine point lead.

A pair of Houlihan frees were followed by Oisin O’Reilly’s first score of the afternoon as Kilmallock reestablished the advantage after 12 minutes.

By the waterbreak, Kilmallock’s lead was 0-8 to 0-2 with Houlihan adding a couple of more frees.

Robbie Hanley plucked over the best score of the first half after 21, collecting Barry Hennessy’s puck out before striking between the posts from out on the sideline.

More placed balls from Houlihan had Kilmallock 0-11 to 0-2 clear before Cormac Beasusang got Midelton’s third score of the afternoon.

But Graeme Mulcahy responded instantly with his first score to give Kilmallock a 0-12 to 0-3 advantage at the half.

Houlihan got us underway in the second half with a quickfire brace, one from play and one from a free.

Lehane responded for Midleton but Houlihan hit back with his tenth of the afternoon.

But Midleton hit back with three on the trot for the first time in the game, Lehane with pair of frees and one from play to leave it 0-15 to 0-7 at the final waterbreak.

Kilmallock responded in style as Kevin O’Donnell got his first of the day before Barry Hennessy hit over a huge free. Houlihan then added his fourth from play to move Kilmallock 0-18 to 0-7 clear on 51 minutes.

Lehane hit back with a score from play before Paddy O’Loughlin made his long awaited return for the Balbec.

With two minutes to play Tommy O’Connell fired past Hennessy to move Midleton within seven.

As he did in the county final, Conor Hanley made a scoring impact off the bench. Midelton had the final score of the game but in truth they never looked like winning after Kilmallock’s dominant second quarter.