There was mixed luck for two Clare schools as the race for the Dr. Harty cup continued this Wednesday afternoon.
Title holders St. Flannan’s College are out of this season’s competition after suffering a one point defeat from Cashel Communty School but the round two headliners are St. Josephs Tulla who travelled to Fermoy and knocked a fancied St. Colmans College out of the title race. Extra time was required in this one with the East Clare side finishing strongly to force the extra period
St. Josephs, Tulla 2-16
St. Colmans, Fermoy 1-16
Venue: Fermoy, Cork
History was made in Fermoy this Wednesday afternoon as St. Josephs, Tulla booked a place in the quarter finals of the Dr Harty Cup.
A one goal victory over a fancied St. Colman’s Fermoy side saw the East Clare school record their first ever win in the prestigious competition. The Cork school won the Dean Ryan title two seasons ago and were tipped to be in the concluding stages of the senior competition this season.
Since gaining promotion to the top flight of Munster colleges hurling a few seasons ago, the best St. Josephs have achieved has been a draw.
It looked like that run was going to continue when they trailed by five points, 0-7 to 0-12 with five minutes remaining this afternoon. The Tulla side refused to accept defeat and helped by a goal from a 20m free by Sean Withycombe, the fought back to level and force extra time with Withycombe also converting two frees.
They were rocked back in the opening minutes of the addition time as the Cork side struck for their goal. The winners responded with three points and when the break came in extra time they were in front on a score of 2-13 to 1-14 after Fionn Hickey struck for their second goal.
Unlucky to lose the opening round by two points to Dr La Salle from Waterford on an 0-18 to 0-20 scoreline, St. Josephs can now look forward to a quarter final tie on January 8.
Adam Hogan, Oisin Clune, Ronan O’Connor and Colm Cleary shone for the Tulla side on a day when Sean Withycombe top scored with 1-9 to his credit.
St. Josephs, Tulla: Aaron Shanahan (Tulla); Darragh Ryan (Tulla), Adam Hogan (Feakle), Fionn Ryan (Tulla); Mikey McMahon (O’Callaghans Mills), Tony Leyden (Tulla), Oisin Clune (Feakle); Ronan O’Connor (Feakle), Captain, Darragh Keogh (Clooney-Quin) 0-4; Oisin O’Connor (Feakle) 0-1, Sean Withycombe (Tulla) 1-9, Fionn Hickey (O’Callaghans Mills) 1-2; Eoghan McMahon (Crusheen), Aaron Curtis (Tulla), Colm Cleary (O’Callaghans Mills);
Subs: Conor O’Donnell (Broadford) for Curtis; Evan Maxted (Clooney-Quin) for E. McMahon;
Title holders out of Harty Cup race
Cashel Community School 0-16
St. Flannan’s College 1-12
Venue: Cashel
Harty Cup title holders St. Flannan’s were knocked out of this season’s competition after suffering a one point defeat from Cashel Community school at Cashel.
Having lost to Thurles CBS (1-21 to 2-20) in the opening round, St. Flannans knew that they had to win this one to stay in the title race.
With quite a number of their players having their third game inside a week (they had colleges football last week and under 21 club games at the weekend), they faced a difficult task against a Tipperary school supported by a big local following.
Cashel led by two points at half time when the score was 0-9 to 1-4, the Ennis school’s goal having come from James Doherty.
Going into the final quarter, Cashel led by four points but St Flannan’s showed great spirit and shot four unanswered points to level the tie. Cashel hit the next two before St. Flannan’s pulled back to the minimum.
With the game moving towards the final whistle, James Doherty struck for a goal only for the referee to penalise him for overcarrying and award a free out.
Overall the teams were evenly matched and both were guilty of some missed chances in a tie played in a heavy pitch which made things difficult for players. Wing backs Jarlath Collins and James Hegarty stood out for St. Flannans
St. Flannans College: Dara Stack (Éire Óg); Jason Power (Ruan), Evan Wall (Ballyea), Eoin Guilfoyle (Clooney-Quin); Jarlath Collins (Éire Óg), John Conneally (Clooney-Quin), James Hegarty (Inagh-Kilnamona); Rory O’Connell (Clarecastle) Dylan Cunningham (Clooney-Quin); Niall Brigdale (Clarecastle), James Doherty (Clarecastle), Senan Crosby (Doora-Barefield); Cian Kirby (Ballyea), James Organ (Corofin), Dylan Keane-Hayes (Kilmaley);
Subs: Oisin Whelan (Clarecastle) for Organ; Fionnan Treacy (Eire Og) for Keane-Hayes; Luca Cleary (Éire Óg) for Crosby; Darragh McInerney (Ruan) for Brigdale;
