Middletown make hurling history in Orchard County

By Michael McMullan

THEY didn’t shout it from the rooftops but Middletown had their eye on becoming the best club team in Armagh ahead of making history on Sunday as the first club to win six Armagh titles in a row.

After chasing Keady for virtually all of the Armagh decider, it was Cahal Carvill’s late goal that put Middletown into the lead for the first time.

Only Keady had won five successive titles until Middletown ended their quest for six in 2006 and it was Carvill’s goal that paved their way to an historic sixth title on Sunday.

“Once we won three (in a row) we had this in the back of our heads,” said defender Paul Gaffney.

“We knew that the five in a row had been done before and once we’d got the three, we wanted to put our legacy down in the history books, we wanted to be one of the best hurling teams to come out of Armagh.”

The target was there within. After that, Middletown’s main focus was on consistency and keeping the focus on winning games.

An important ingredient was the core of their team sticking together. The lure of travel didn’t pull into their playing pool too much.

With their spine intact, it helped any newcomers come in around the edges with an experienced arm to pull them along. If the experienced players know what targets and standards are, the younger guns will follow. That’s the progression they’re hoping for.

With players from nearby Derrynoose bolstering their numbers, Middletown won the Armagh u-16 title on Monday night. That’s the balance of amalgamations. There is quality in both sides but if numbers are scarce, there is no hurling and nobody gains. This way, it works for everyone.

When the chat turns back to the senior final, Gaffney admits Keady’s hunger had Middletown backed into a tightest of corners.

“They were maybe that wee bit hungrier than us,” he admitted. “We just stuck to the game-plan and just kept plugging away and trying to keep them in.”

If they could keep within touching distance, Middletown had the assurance of knowing they can finish strong in the final quarter.

“It was definitely one of the toughest ones yet,” Gaffney adds.

For now, their focus us on the big ball and Sunday’s junior semi-final showdown with An Port Mór. With a fancied side Forkhill knocked out by Colleheland, any of the remaining four teams will feel it’s within reach.

Beyond that, Middletown have an Ulster Intermediate hurling date with Castleblayney, as they bid to back up their 2011 and 2017 titles. They gave Sleacht Néill all they wanted on the senior stage in 2018 while losing in the decider on another two occasions.

“We’d like to try and give it a push as best we can,” Gaffney said of their next hurling focus.

“There’s a lot of competitive teams like the Antrim champions and (Kevin Lynch’s) Dungiven are down as well.

“There’ll be plenty of stiff competition in the Ulster but it’s the same as anything, if you’re entering it, you might as well try and give it a shot.”