Cobh took on Midleton last Saturday evening in the East Cork Oil JAHC Quarter final in sunny Caherlag. Both sides saw their way through to this quarter final encounter with early championship victories and with a place in the flagship competitions last four up for grabs, the tension was evident to see in the early exchanges.
The wind was firmly at the backs of the islanders in the opening half, but it proved to be of very little benefit to them in a first half which was mainly forgettable.
Cobh took the lead from the stick of the excellent Lee Murphy from a placed ball, but minutes later a good score from play, from Darren Quirke of Midleton had the side’s level.
Cobh did suffer a setback on the 11th minute when wing back Liam Greaney had to leave the field with an ankle injury, however it had little impact on the game as the replacement Jamie Moynihan had a fantastic game.
Cormac Walsh sent over two frees for Midleton playing into the wind on the 18th and 30th minute in a very low scoring first half, but there was a flurry of scores in the first half injury time, Darragh O’Keeffe and Murphy for Cobh and yet another Walsh free to leave Midleton lead by the bare minimum at the short whistle, the scoreboard showing Cobh 0-04 to Midleton’s 0-05.
Few would have given Cobh a realistic chance following the first half performance with the elements and a high count of nine wide’s, but Derek Barrett’s men showed some great heart and determination in the second half. An early score from Jer Meaney after some fine play by Cian Spriggs to get near the Midleton goal and then a Spriggs gave Cobh the lead and they went more or less point for point, with scores from Murphy, Adam McCarthy and Darragh Kelleher until the 50th minute when Spriggs made the most of a defensive error to slam the game’s opening goal to give Cobh a four point lead.

Midleton weren’t going away and following a point on the 54th minute Aenghus Cotter found the net for the ‘Magpies’ to level the match.
Cobh didn’t panic and closed this one out with three unanswered points and a place in the semi-final.

Scorers for Cobh: Lee Murphy 0-5 (3f) Cian Spriggs 1-2, Adam McCarthy 0-2 (1f), Darragh Kelleher 0-2, Darragh O’Keeffe & Jer Meaney 0-1.

Cobh team: Eddy Walsh, Martin O’Connor, Seamus Ryan, Rory O’Connell, Liam Greaney, Allen Walley(Cpt), Kieran Histon, Conor McLoughlin, Lee Murphy, Brian Aherne, Darragh O’Keeffe, Darragh Kelleher, Jer Meaney, Cian Spriggs, Adam McCarthy.
Subs: Jamie Moynihan for L Greaney (11^th minute Injury), Tomas McGrath for J Meaney (46^th minute)

 Referee: Patrick O Driscoll (Bride Rovers)