*A dejected Darragh McNamara at the final whistle. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
ST FLANNAN’S COLLEGE have been defeated by St Joseph’s CBS Nenagh in the final of the Dr Harty Cup.
St. Joseph’s CBS Nenagh 0-20
St. Flannan’s College 0-18
Venue: Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg, Ennis
Having successfully unearthed three late fightback on their way to the final, unfortunately there was nothing left in the tank this time around for St. Flannan’s College to deny a relentless Nenagh CBS their second Harty Cup title in Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chiosóg in three seasons.
For the very first time, Clare’s comeback kings appeared more war-weary than their opponents as the hour mark crept inexorably closer, with a four point unanswered Nenagh rally, two from the inspired stick of captain Eoghan Doughan, carving out a 0-20 to 0-17 cushion by the 55th minute.
Having been locked together six times over the hour, there was still plenty of time for the Ennis school to resurrect their title hopes. However, a free from joint-captain Harry Doherty was all that St. Flannan’s could in the final 17 minutes of the contest as their scores and innovation dried up at just the wrong juncture.
All that after rectifying their slow start pattern that saw them trail final opponents Nenagh by as much as ten points by half-time in their opening round showdown three months earlier. Having had to conduct some serious interval introspection against Our Lady’s Templemore and St. Joseph’s Tulla as well in their last two outings, it would be refreshing to see St. Flannan’s snatched the whip hand early on.
Indeed, a five point blitz through chief marksmen Doherty (2), Isaac Hassett and the ever-threatening duo of Darragh McNamara and Thomas O’Connor, the Ennis side soared 0-8 to 0-3 in front by the end of the opening quarter.
However, once Nenagh CBS talisman Eoghan Doughan found his feet, it would prove a much more evenly matches tie as the Moneygall star arrowed over seven first half points to completely flip the script and actually inch in front for the very first time in injury-time at 0-11 to 0-10.
Harry Doherty did ensure a half-time stalemate with a last gasp free won by Clarecastle club-mate Rory Ralph and that seesaw pattern would prevail right throughout a much more tense second stanza.
Darragh McNamara weaved through to snatch the lead after only 90 seconds, only to be hit by a three point burst from Player-of-the-Match Doughan (2) and Joe O’Dwyer by the 35th minute.
A much-needed Harry Doherty point from play ignited St. Flannan’s once more but it would take until the turn of the final quarter to actually regain full parity for a fifth time after James Cullinan was dragged down on his way to goal and his fellow joint-captain Doherty equalised at 0-16 to 0-16.
An excellent Colm Daly point from 65 metres actually nudged the home side in front for the first time in 17 minutes but they simply couldn’t shake off a resilient Nenagh CBS who were unlucky not to grab a goal in the next passage of play.
Some superb last ditch defending from goalkeeper Leon Talty kept out a KJ Dunne bullet before Darragh Ball blocked a Patrick Ryan effort.
A resolute Nenagh were undeterred though as Joe O’Dwyer arrowed over a worthy leveller in the 50th minute before adding a further three through the assurance of Doughan.
St. Flannan’s did carve out one final opportunity at the death when James Cullinan earned and delivered a monster free from his own ’45 into a crowded scrum. The ball deflected right into the square where full-back Sean MacNamara tried to control but any attempt was smothered by a defiant Nenagh to the welcome sound of the final whistle.
A heartbroken St. Flannan’s do have a Croke Cup campaign to come but it will be difficult to pick up the pieces following a second successive Harty Cup Final reverse.
Scorers for St. Joseph’s CBS Nenagh: Eoghan Doughan 0-12 (8f), Austin Duff 0-2, Joe O’Dwyer 0-2, Patrick Hackett 0-2, Dara O’Dwyer 0-1, Patrick Ryan 0-1
Scorers for St Flannan’s College: Harry Doherty 0-8 (5f, 1’65), Darragh McNamara 0-3, Thomas O’Connor 0-2, Isaac Hassett 0-1, Graham Ball 0-1, Eoin O’Connor 0-1, Patrick Finneran 0-1, Colm Daly 0-1
St. Joseph’s CBS Nenagh
1: Paddy McCormack (Moneygall)
2: Diarmuid Fogarty (Kiladangan)
6: Shane Cleary (Kilruane MacDonaghs)
4: Cormac Kennedy (Kilruane MacDonaghs)
7: Emmett Jones (Nenagh Éire Óg)
3: Dara O’Dwyer (Kiladangan)
5: Johnny Grace (Burgess)
9: Austin Duff (Toomevara)
25: Hugo Healy (Kilruane MacDonaghs)
13: Patrick Ryan (Borrisoleigh)
11: Eoghan Doughan (Moneygall)
12: Paul Cahalan (Burgess)
8: Eanna Tucker (Nenagh Éire Óg)
14: Patrick Hackett (Toomevara)
15: Joe O’Dwyer (Burgess)
Subs
17: Tom Boland (Kiladangan) for J. O’Dwyer (BS, 26-HT),
17: Boland for Tucker (HT)
24: Rian McGrath (Kiladangan) for Cahalan (43)
27: KJ Dunne (Toomevara) for Healy (48)
21: Charlie Kennedy (Kilruane MacDonaghs) for J. O’Dwyer (61)
18: Daniel McKelvey (Silvermines) for Hackett (64),
St Flannan’s College
1: Leon Talty (St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
2: Conor Hill (Ballyea)
3: Sean McNamara (Clooney/Quin)
4: Darragh Murrihy (Inagh/Kilnamona)
5: Darragh Ball (St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
6: James Cullinan (Ruan)
7: Colm Daly (St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
8: Graham Ball (St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
9: Isaac Hassett (Clooney/Quin)
10: Harry Doherty (Clarecastle)
11: Patrick Finneran (Clooney/Quin)
12: Rory Ralph (Clarecastle)
13: Eoin O’Connor (Ballyea)
14: Thomas O’Connor (St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
15: Darragh McNamara (Clooney/Quin)
Subs
17: John Barry (Inagh-Kilnamona) for D. Ball (BS, 27-28)
17: Barry for Hassett (38)
23: Jason Keane Hayes (Kilmaley) for Finneran (44)
20: Ben Talty (St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield) for Ralph (53, inj)
22: David Loftus (Éire Óg) for E. O’Connor (56)
Referee: Thomas Walsh (Waterford)
