*Harry Doherty is brought to ground. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
A SHARPER Thurles CBS were crowned 2025 Dr Harty Cup champions when they recorded a merited three point win over St Flannan’s College.
Thurles CBS 1-13
St Flannan’s College 0-13
Venue: Mallow GAA Complex
A goal from corner forward Jack Hayes, eight minutes into the second half proved to be the key score on a day when St. Flannan’s managed just three points from play as against 1-6 from play for the winners.
St. Flannans battled to the end but they never looked like getting the goal they needed to force the game into extra time.
It was a strong team performance from the winners on a day when twenty two champions Flannans struggled in a number of areas, not least in attack as evidenced by the fact the starting six managed just one point from play, that being their opening score which came from Harry Doherty in the second minute.
Both sides showed one change in personnell from their semi-final line ups. Having recovered from the injury which kept him out of the semi-final Sean McNamara lined out at corner back for St. Flannans while Tiernan Ryan replaced James Butler in the Thurles half forward line.
Although playing with the aid of the breeze, St. Flannan’s struggled in the opening quarter at which tie they were three points arrears, 0-4 to 0-1.
Thurles stretched their lead to four two minutes later but Cormac Fitzpatrick’s converted ‘65 proved to be their final score of the half.
St. Flannan’s certainly had the better of matters in the final ten minutes of the half. Three converted frees by Harry Doherty and a superb pint from play from midfielder Daniel Costelloe had the sides level with four minutes remaining in the half.
Robert Loftus edged the Clare side to the lead as the game went into two minutes of additional time before team captain James Hegarty doubled their advantage when he converted a ‘65 with the last action of the half.
Having played with the aid of the wind in that opening period, it was feared that a two point advantage would not be enough and so it proved.
Points were exchanged twice in the early minutes of the new half but then the new champions landed 1-3 to a point for St Flannan’s before the three quarter stage. Two points in the next five minutes sretched their lead to five with ten to play and the task facing St. Flannans had become much greater.
To their credit St Flannan’s piled on the pressure and they landed three unanswered points from Doherty frees to leave two between the sides as the game entered three minutes of added time
Thurles weren’t to be denied and they landed the final score, an excellent point from wing back Killian Cantwell, to seal victory, their ninth in all and their first win in this prestigious competition since 2015.
Thurles centre forward David Costigan was named as the man of the match on a day when Evan Morris,, Keith Loughnane, Euan Murray and Cormac Fitzpatrick impressed in what wasn an overall strong team performance.
The St.Flannan’s defence battled bravely throughout with full back trio Joseph Casey, Sean McNamara and Conor Daly leading the way. Conditions were cold and players had to contend with a heavy mist throughout.
St. Flannans must now put this disappointment behind them and peepae for an All-Ieeland quarer final meeting with Conacht champions, Presentation College, Athenry on February 15. Leinster champions, St Kierans College,Kilkenny, await the winners of that tie in the semi-final on March 1 with the final set for St. Patrick’s Day, March 17
Scorers Thurles CBS: C Fitzpatrick (0-7 7f), J Hayes (1-0), K Cantwell (0-1), E Murray (0-1), C Minogue (0-1), R Ryan (0-1)
Scorers St Flannan’s College: H Doherty (0-10 9f), J Hegarty (0-1 1’65), R Loftus (0-1), D Costelloe (0-1).
Thurles CBS:
1: Harry Loughnane (Roscrea)
2: Toby Corbett (Upperchurch Drombame)
3: Evan Morris (Holycross Ballycahill)
4: Jack Lahart (Holycrosd Ballycahill)
5: Killian Cantwell (Moycarkey Borris)
6: Keith Loughnane (Thurles Sarsfields)
7: Ryne Bargery (Boherlahan Duala)
8: Evan Murray (Durles Og)
9: Kieran Rossiter (Durles Og);
10: Tiernan Ryan (Hollycross Ballycahill),
11: David Costigan (Moycarkey Borris)
12: Cormac Fitzpatrick (Drom on Inch)
13: Jack Hayes (Moycarkey Borris)
14: Cillian Minogue (Thurles Sarsfields)
15: Robbie Ryan (Holycross Ballycahill) Captain
Subs:
17; James Butler (Sean Treacys) for T. Ryan (50)
19: Darragh Hickey (Emeralds) for Cantwell (59)
Cantwell for Bargary (61)
St. Flannan’s College:
1: Micheal O’Coilean (St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
4: Sean McNamara (Clooney/Quin)
2: Conor Daly (St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
3: Joseph Casey (Kilmaley);
5: James Cullinan (Ruan);
6: James Hegarty (Inagh-Kilnamona), Captain
7: Robert Loftus (Éire Óg)
8: Daniel Costelloe (Ballyea
9: Dara Kennedy (Ballyea);
11: Darragh Ball (St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield),
12: Harry Doherty (Clarecastle)
10: Ronan Kilroy (Banner)
13: Graham Ball (St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield),
14: Conor Ralph (Clarecastle)
15: Marco Cleary (Éire Óg);
Subs:
18: Darragh McNamara (Clooney/Quin) for G. Ball (HT)
19: Conor Hill (Ballyea) for Cullinan (43)
21: Paul O’Connell (Clarecastle) for D. Ball
Neil Hegarty (Inagh/Kilnamona) for Kennedy (55)
Referee; Johnnie Murphy, Limerick
