*Nenagh CBS celebrate at the final whistle. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
NENAGH CBS have claimed Dr Harty Cup honours with a dramatic win over Ard Scoil Rís.
St Joseph’s CBS Nenagh 2-16
Ard Scoil Rís 0-20
Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis
Wing back Andy Hoolan scored a dramatic goal, from a pull on the ground with sixty two minutes played to see Nenagh CBS crowned champions of the famed post-primary provincial competition for the first time, in a year when they have also won the Dean Ryan.
Ten Clare hurlers featured over the hour, all for Ard Scoil Rís with Cusack Park hosting the encounter.
Indeed it was a tie that could have went either way, the battle of two very evenly matched sides ending with Nenagh taking the spoils. Hoolan’s shot in the scramble followed a fantastic save by Fionn O’Brien from a Brian O’Meara effort but Ard Scoil were unable to clear the danger which allowed Hoolan to pounce for the winner.
Losing in such a fashion will leave Ard Scoil with plenty of regrets. They were very slow to make changes on the sideline, given the strength in-depth of their panel such an approach was very surprising whereas Nenagh wasted no time in adding freshness, Austin Duff scored 1-1 in four minutes when introduced before the half-time whistle.
Cratloe’s Marc O’Brien was on fire in the third quarter, scoring three points in seven minutes and was exploiting the space left in front of him. His involvement waned when he was moved to the half-forward line and Diarmuid Stritch shoved inwards. Both this swap and Ard Scoil’s inability to continue to pepper O’Brien with ball had an influence on the final result.
Inside the first three minutes, the sides were level twice before Ard Scoil hit three points without succession.
Joint captain Fionn Fitzgerald was leading the way for Ard Scoil, he added two points in a row before Darragh McCarthy and Duff responded, then Clonlara’s Michael Collins popped over two points on the trot to give Ard Scoil a four point advantage with twenty six minutes played.
Austin Duff did well to get a shot away from a tight angle never mind to finish to the back of the net to reduce the deficit to a minimum before Eoghan Doughan equalised before the interval.
Having got back on a level footing, Nenagh CBS were determined on the restart not to allow Ard Scoil build up another advantage and they responded on each occasion when Marc O’Brien was pushing the Limerick school in front. Captain McCarthy and Mason Cawley stood tall in this regard and put them ahead on thirty four minutes before Sixmilebridge’s Daniel Chaplin scored from play, producing an excellent first touch prior to landing the equaliser, he was harshly substituted moments later.
O’Brien and Cawley traded scores then McCarthy landed a brace only for Ard Scoil to reply via Darragh Gleeson and Eoin Begley.
As the game entered the final quarter, Fintan Fitzgerald put Ard Scoil ahead again only for midfielder Ciaran Foley to score two excellent points from distance. Michael Collins, O’Brien and Patrick Kearney all split the posts to give Ard Scoil a dangerous two point lead which was blown to smithereens when Hoolan became the hero.
Darragh McCarthy who has recently been added to the Tipperary senior hurling squad along with Ciaran Foley, Austin Duff and Mason Cawley led the way for Donach O’Donell’s Nenagh CBS. For Liam Cronin’s Ard Scoil, there was fine displays from Fintan Fitzgerald, Seán McMahon and Marc O’Brien.
Scorers Nenagh CBS: D McCarthy (0-7 4f), A Duff (1-1), A Hoolan (1-0), M Cawley (0-3), E Dougan (0-3), C Foley (0-2).
Scorers Ard Scoil Rís: F Fitzgerald (0-5), M O’Brien (0-5 1f), M Collins (0-4), D Chaplin (0-3 2f), D Scully (0-1), E Begley (0-1), P Kearney (0-1).
Nenagh CBS:
1: Simon Grace (Ballina)
4: Gavin McGrath (Kiladangan)
3: Cian Connolly (Nenagh Éire Óg)
2: Conor Grace (Burgess)
7: Andy Hoolan (Moneygall)
6: Jake Hackett (Toomevara)
5: Jack Doran (Toomevara)
8: Ciaran Foley (Borrisokane)
9: Darragh McCarthy (Toomevara)
10: Jack Mulcahy (Kilruane MacDonaghs)
11: Mason Cawley (Nenagh Éire Óg)
12: Zac Keller (Nenagh Éire Óg)
15: Eoghan Doughan (Moneygall)
14: Danny Quinn (Silvermines)
13: Aodhán O’Connor (Nenagh Éire Óg)
Subs:
18: Austin Duff (Toomevara) for Quinn (24)
26: Darragh Treacy (Silvermines) for Keller (47)
25: Joe O’Dwyer (Burgess) for Mulcahy (50)
20: Brian O’Meara (Kilruane MacDonaghs) for O’Connor (50)
Ard Scoil Rís:
1: Fionn O’Brien (Bruree)
4: Seán Morrissey (Dromin Athlacca)
3: Seán McMahon (Smith O’Briens)
2: John O’Keeffe (Na Piarsaigh)
7: Daniel Scully (Dromin Athlacca)
6: Jamie Moylan (Cratloe)
5: James Finn (Na Piarsaigh)
8: Riain McNamara (Cratloe)
9: Matthew O’Halloran (Sixmilebridge)
12: Michael Collins (Clonlara)
11: Fintan Fitzgerald (Mungret St Paul’s)
10: Diarmuid Stritch (Clonlara)
15: Eoin Begley (Clonlara)
14: Marc O’Brien (Cratloe)
13: Daniel Chaplin (Sixmilebridge)
Subs:
20: Darragh Gleeson (Adare) for O’Keeffe (HT)
24: Patrick Kearney (Adare) for Chaplin (37)
23: Jack Cosgrove (Ahane) for Stritch (58)
22: Seán Arthur (Newmarket-on-Fergus) for Collins (61)
Referee: Cathal McAllister (Cork)
