Dr. Harty Cup Q-F – Thurles CBS 2-8 Gaelcolaiste Mhuire AG 1-10

Thurles CBS defeated Gaelcolaiste Mhuire AG by 2-8 to 1-10 in the first of the Munster GAA Post Primary Schools Dr. Harty Cup Quarter-Finals on Friday January 9th at Kilmallock.

Wasteful Thurles survive Harty Cup battle

Thurles CBS 2-8 Gaelcoláiste Mhuire AG (Cork) 1-10

Report by Ed Donnelly from Fitzgerald Park Kilmallock

Thurles CBS are back in to the semi-final of the Dr. Harty Cup after a gap of two years after a hard earned victory on Friday last over a Gaelcoláiste Mhuire AG side which made them battle right to the final whistle.

Thurles were unbackable favourites with the bookies before this game but Harty Cup knockout games played in heavy conditions in January seldom follow the pre-match script. This was a tough game played in good spirits as both sides battled for every ball as if their life depended on it. Blustery conditions were the order of the day and the cross-field wind favoured the Cork side in the first half. And what a start Gaelcoláiste Mhuire AG produced as they found their scoring touch early and often. A brace of points from Donal Ó Conaing (1 free) and Adam Ó Donnabháin followed by a point by midfielder and Cork Senior Hurling panellist Dayne Ó Laoi put them in front by 0-5 to 0-0 after 8 minutes.

Thurles needed a score and though Jack Butler was denied a goal in the 11th minute following a good save by Donal Ó Conaing, the impressive Upperchurch-Drombane forward would not be denied a minute later when he latched on to a break following a Robbie Long delivery to raise a green flag. This was a crucial score as Gaelcoláiste Mhuire AG seemed shell-shocked after such a good start. The teams traded points entering the second quarter before Butler found midfielder Billy McCarthy in space and the Thurles Sarsfields clubman made no mistake to score a second goal for Thurles and amazingly put them in front, 2-1 to 0-6 after 21 minutes. Drom & Inch sharpshooter Robbie Long added two points from play, the first an audacious effort from distance in to the teeth of the gale force wind and by the interval, Thurles CBS led by 2-4 to 0-7.

The pattern of play did not change in the early stages of the second half as the aerial ability of Thurles CBS full-forward came to the fore with two outstanding catches being converted in to points and the Tipperary side led by five points with 35 minutes on the clock. A one-sided second half looked on the cards as the Thurles dominance extended to most sectors. Gaelcoláiste Mhuire AG had other ideas and when Dayne Ó Laoi’s tame one handed effort somehow found its way past William Tierney for a goal, the Cork side were right back in to contention. Dayne Ó Laoi followed up with a point soon afterwards now Thurles led by the minimum, 2-6 to 1-8.

Gaelcoláiste Mhuire AG had now deployed their full-forward Adam Ó Donnabháin to act as an additional defender and though Thurles CBS continued their dominance of possession, Ó Donnabháin defended heroically to cut off the supply to the inside forward line of Thurles. A nervous Thurles outfit now looked to find scores from long range but to the dismay of their mentors and supporters, hit 12 consecutive wides during a 20 minute second half barren spell to keep the Cork school in the game. Gaelcoláiste Mhuire AG had chances to level the game during this period but were unable to register a score, seeing a couple of shots drop short against the wind.

The scoring drought finally ended ii the 55th minute as Jack Butler pointed to put Thurles two points up only to see Donal Ó Conaing convert a free within a minute. The exchanges were now frantic as the large crowd rose to support two committed teams in the search for victory. With a minute of normal time left, Niall Heffernan pointed a difficult free to put two points in it again. Donal Ó Conaing responded again with a free and as the game entered injury time, Gaelcoláiste Mhuire AG put everything in to getting an equaliser and forcing extra time. In the 63rd minute, Evan Ó Síocháin won possession 45 metres from goal and though under pressure, went on a long solo run as the space opened up in front of him. Under pressure from Dillon Quirke and Cathal Moloney, the Cork forward rolled the dice and went for glory only to see his goalbound shot well saved by William Tierney in the Thurles goal. Seconds later the final whistle sounded and Thurles had secured victory by a solitary point.

After the final whistle, there was a short skirmish involving both teams which resulted in referee Richard Moloney brandishing a straight red card to Thurles CBS wing-back Ronan Heffernan who now looks set to miss the semi-final against the winners of Pobalscoil Na Tríonóide and Castletroy College.

Thurles CBS will be relieved to have gotten over the line in this game but made life oh so difficult for themselves with 15 second half wides (including 12 on the trot) and 20 wides altogether. Such inaccuracy if repeated in the semi-final will not suffice and is certainly an area for improvement for the Thurles mentors over the next 3 weeks ahead of the January 31st semi-final. For Thurles, most of their better players were in defence who all played well as a unit. Billy McCarthy hit a lot of ball at midfield while up front, Jack Butler and Robbie Long combined for 1-5 from play which proved crucial in a low scoring game. Gaelcoláiste Mhuire AG were best served by Eadbhard Ó Conaing, Dayne Ó Laoi, Donal Ó Conaing and Adam Ó Donnabháin.

THURLES CBS: William Tierney (Thurles Sarsfields); Dillon Quirke (Clonoulty-Rossmore), Jack Derby (Thurles Sarsfields), Enda Heffernan (Clonoulty-Rossmore); Jack Skehan (Holycross-Ballycahill), Chris McCullagh (Moycarkey-Borris), Ronan Heffernan (Clonoulty-Rossmore); Billy McCarthy (Thurles Sarsfields, 1-0), Cathal Moloney (Thurles Sarsfields); Ronan Teehan (Gortnahoe-Glengoole, Captain, 0-1), Kevin Duggan (Galmoy), Niall Heffernan (Moycarkey-Borris, 0-1 free); Brendan Kelly (Rathdowney-Errill, 0-2), Robbie Long (Drom & Inch, 0-2), Jack Butler (Upperchurch-Drombane, 1-2)
Subs: Michael Connors (Drom & Inch) for Duggan (47), Matt Stakelum (Holycross-Ballycahill) for Kelly (54, injured), Rory Purcell (Thurles Sarsfields) for Teehan (60).

GAELCHOLÁISTE MHUIRE AG: D Ó Conaill (Na Piarsaigh); A Ó Súilleabháin (Glen Rovers), E Ó Conaing (Na Piarsaigh), R Ó Meara (Na Piarsaigh); A Breathnach (Na Piarsaigh), J Ó Muireasa (Na PIarsaigh), E Ó Caoimh (Na Piarsaigh); L Ó Cochláin (Glen Rovers), D Ó Laoi (Na Piarsaigh, 1-3); C Ó hAinifín (Na Piarsaigh), E Ó Laoire (Na Piarsaigh), K Ó hEathairn (Na Piarsaigh); D Ó Conaing (Na Piarsaigh, 0-5, 0-4 frees), A Ó Donnabháin (Glen Rovers, 0-2), E Ó Síocháin (Na Piarsaigh).
Subs: B Ó Ceallacháin (Na Piarsaigh) for Breathnach (24, injured), P de Faoite (Glen Rovers) for Ó hEathairn (half-time).

Referee: Richard Moloney (Limerick)

Narrow victory for Thurles thanks to goals

By Denis Hurley, Kilmallock for the Irish Examiner newspaper

Dr Harty Cup quarter-final

Thurles CBS (Tipperary) 2-8 Gaelcoláiste Mhuire AG (Cork) 1-10

Despite posting 15 second-half wides, Thurles CBS held on to advance past Gaelcholáiste Mhuire and into the Dr Harty Cup semi-finals at Kilmallock yesterday. Leading 2-4 to 0-7 at half-time and with the wind to come, competition favourites Thurles appeared set to push on and book their last-four spot with ease. A combination of poor shooting and a dogged Gaelcholáiste display made for a closer-than-expected second-half, but, ultimately, the Cork city school couldn’t get level.

Selector Martin Maher acknowledged afterwards the first-half goals from Jack Butler and Billy McCarthy, which helped them lead 2-4 to 0-7 at the break, were crucial.

“Conditions were difficult,” he said, “both sides had wides and the wind was swirling. We’re just delighted to get over the line. The goals really brought us into the game. They started well but we gained confidence from the first goal and then maybe we were lucky to get the second. There was nothing simple there. It was a quick turnaround coming back after Christmas but we have a few weeks now to prepare for the semi-final.”

Thurles were left standing as AG roared into life, scoring five points in the opening eight minutes, Donal Ó Conaing and Adam Ó Donnabháin impressing in attack and Eadbhard Ó Conaing on top at the back. The Tipperary school served notice of their intentions as Butler was denied by a Darragh Ó Conaill save in the 12th minute and a minute later Thurles’ brightest attacker had the ball in the net, finishing well after Robbie Long’s delivery broke.

Butler followed that with a point and while Donal Ó Conaing responded with a free for the AG, Thurles then struck for a second goal. This time Butler was the provider for midfielder McCarthy, who fired past Ó Conaill. Further points from Ronan Teehan and Robbie Long – who also drew a fine save from Ó Conaill – meant three points separated the sides at half-time and Brendan Kelly’s brace at the start of the second-half suggested an inevitability about the outcome.

In the 36th minute, Gaelcholáiste Mhuire seized a lifeline, however. Somehow, energetic midfielder Dayne Ó Laoi – who will feature for Cork against UL in the Waterford Crystal Cup today – made his way through four challenges and, though he was only able to get in a one-handed shot, the ball nested in the net to leave it 2-6 to 1-7.

Thurles created enough chances to pull clear again but the target remained elusive and they had 10 second-half wides by the 45th minute. The AG couldn’t take full advantage but Ó Laoi, with a great point on the run, did manage to bring them back to within a point. A Donal Ó Conaing free might have levelled but Thurles full-back Enda Heffernan did well to bring the ball down on the goal-line.

Eventually, Thurles’ drought was ended by Butler, though Donal Ó Conaing replied immediately and did so again after Niall Heffernan nailed a difficult free. Deep into injury time, the AG were afforded one final chance when Evan Ó Síocháin found possession on the left but Dillon Quirke forced him wide and his low effort was saved by William Tierney. That was the last action, though an incident after the final whistle saw referee Richard Moloney red-card Thurles’ Ronan Heffernan, who may miss the semi-final against Castletroy College or Youghal’s Pobalscoil na Tríonóide.

Scorers for Thurles CBS: J Butler 1-2, B McCarthy 1-0, B Kelly, R Long 0-2 each, R Teehan, N Heffernan 0-1 (free) each.

Scorers for Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG: D Ó Laoi 1-3, D Ó Conaing 0-5 (four frees), A Ó Donnabháin 0-2.

THURLES CBS: W Tierney (Thurles Sarsfields); D Quirke (Clonoulty-Rossmore), J Derby (Thurles Sarsfields), E Heffernan (Clonoulty-Rossmore); J Skehan (Holycross-Ballycahill), C McCullagh (Moycarkey-Borris), R Heffernan (Clonoulty-Rossmore); B McCarthy (Thurles Sarsfields), C Moloney (Thurles Sarsfields); R Teehan (Gortnahoe-Glengoole), K Duggan (Galmoy), N Heffernan (Moycarkey-Borris); B Kelly (Rathdowney-Errill), R Long (Drom & Inch), J Butler (Upperchurch-Drombane).
Subs: M Connors (Drom & Inch) for Duggan (47), M Stakelum (Holycross-Ballycahill) for Kelly (54, injured), R Purcell (Thurles Sarsfields) for Teehan (60).

GAELCHOLÁISTE MHUIRE AG: D Ó Conaill (Na Piarsaigh); A Ó Súilleabháin (Glen Rovers), E Ó Conaing (Na Piarsaigh), R Ó Meara (Na Piarsaigh); A Breathnach (Na Piarsaigh), J Ó Muireasa (Na PIarsaigh), E Ó Caoimh (Na Piarsaigh); L Ó Cochláin (Glen Rovers), D Ó Laoi (Na Piarsaigh); C Ó hAinifín (Na Piarsaigh), E Ó Laoire (Na Piarsaigh), K Ó hEathairn (Na Piarsaigh); D Ó Conaing (Na Piarsaigh), A Ó Donnabháin (Glen Rovers), E Ó Síocháin (Na Piarsaigh).
Subs: B Ó Ceallacháin (Na Piarsaigh) for Breathnach (24, injured), P de Faoite (Glen Rovers) for Ó hEathairn (half-time).

Referee: R Moloney (Limerick)

Match Preview

Thurles CBS in Dr. Harty Cup action this Friday

By Ed Donnelly

Thurles CBS and Gaelcolaiste Mhuire AG will get the Munster GAA Post Primary Schools Dr. Harty Cup knockout stages off to an exciting start on this Friday at 1:30pm when they play the first of the Quarter-Finals for the 2014/2015 season with Kilmallock as the venue. Thurles CBS come in to the game after topping Group 1 by remaining undefeated in a group involving the defending champions Ard Scoil Ris. The only dropped points for Thurles came against a strong West Limerick Colleges side where the teams finished level after an exciting game. The best game for the Thurles school in the competition to date came with a close fought battle with Ard Scoil Ris played at MacDonagh Park Nenagh, winning by a nine point margin (3-12 to 0-12) after a very good team performance. Jack Butler (Upperchurch-Drombane), Matty Stakelum (Holycross-Ballycahill) and Robbie Long (Drom & Inch) scored the goals on that occasion. The winning margin was flattering in the finish but the victory was well merited by a strong, balanced Tipperary side which played well on the day. The Thurles CBS management team of Niall Cahill, Martin Maher and John Devane will be looking to players such as Billy McCarthy (Thurles Sarsfields), Jack Skehan (Holycross-Ballycahill) and Chris McCullagh (Moycarkey-Borris) to supply the ammunition for the forward division to get sufficient scores for victory.

For Gaelcolaiste Mhuire AG, it was a case of coming through what turned out to be the Group of Death which saw four schools reach Round 5 on the same number of points. The final round victory over SNTN Doon by two points (1-15 to 1-13) was hard earned and only a one point defeat to Castletroy CC in Round 3 prevented Gaelcolaiste Mhuire AG from topping Group 2. Daniel Gunning scored the crucial goal in the Round 5 victory over Doon and finished the group stages as his side’s joint top scorer with 1-11 (0-5 free) alongside Cork Minor Dayne Lee (scorer of 2-8 over the three group games. The balance of the Gaelcolaiste Mhuire AG side is illustrated best by their average of six different scorers over their three group games.

When the schools met in this competition last season during the group stages, Thurles CBS had 10 points to spare (0-21 to 0-11) but one suspects on all known form to date that Friday’s battle between two balanced and well coached teams will go down to the wire. Thurles CBS lost out in the Quarter-Final last year at the hands of another Cork school, St. Francis College Rochestown so will look to avoid a similar fate this time. Castletroy CC or PS Youghal await the winners in the semi-final.

Fixture Details

When – Friday January 9^th at 1:30pm

Where – Kilmallock

Referee – Richard Moloney (Limerick)

Extra time to be played if necessary

Admission Prices

Adults – €5
Students / OAP’s – €3

All Media and Munster Council passes accepted.

Paths to the Quarter-Final

Gaelcolaiste Mhuire AG

Round 1 – Gaelcolaiste Mhuire AG 1-14 De La Salle College 1-10

Round 2 -Gaelcolaiste Mhuire AG 2-14 St Colmans Fermoy 0-7
Round 3 – Castletroy CC 2-13 Gaelcolaiste Mhuire AG 0-18

Round 4 – Bye
Round 5 – Gaelcolaiste Mhuire AG 1-15 SNTN Doon 1-13

Thurles CBS

Round 1 – Thurles CBS 5-26 St Flannans 0-6

Round 2 – Thurles CBS 1-15 West Limerick Colleges 3-9

Round 3 – Thurles CBS 3-12 Ard Scoil Ris 0-12
Round 4 – Thurles CBS 2-15 Blackwater CS 3-3

Round 5 – Bye

For the Record