Nenagh and Templemore disappoint in Harty Cup openers
Tipperary schools got off to disappointing starts in the opening round of games in the Munster Senior (Under 19) 'A' Hurling Dr Harty Cup last Wednesday.
Nenagh CBS had high hopes going in their game against Coláiste Cholmáin Fermoy in Cashel but were brought crashing down to earth following a 3-18 to 1-11 defeat.
Nenagh CBS played with the aid of the breeze in the opening half. However, from an early stage, the Fermoy school looked to be the better side and when James Kearney took advantage of a mistake in the Nenagh full-back line to register the game’s first goal in the 11th minute, to give his side a 1-4 to 0-0.
Nenagh opened their account with two Kevin McCarthy points in the 13th minute and while the second quarter exchanges were of a more even nature, Nenagh’s ability to score from open play restricted their ability to reduce the deficit and by the interval, Coláiste Cholmáin Fermoy led 1-10 to 0-6.
As both sides began to make changes midway through the second half, the seven-point margin still existed until the 43rd minute when Fermoy full-forward Brian Roche raised a green flag to put his side in front 2-13 to 0-9.
In the 56th minute, Fermoy substitute Padraig O’Leary hit the ball to the back of the net to extend the Cork school’s lead to 3-16 to 0-11. Nenagh CBS kept plugging away and a goal chance was denied in the 59th minute when Kevin McCarthy was fouled by Fermoy full-back Jack Scannell who received a second yellow card. From the resultant 20 metre free, Bryan McLoughney beat the five players on the line to secure a consolation goal for Nenagh.
In the other game in Group A, Árdscoil Rís Limerick came from behind to defeat Gaelcholáiste Mhuire an Mhainistir Thuaigh 0-18 to 1-9. In Round 2 scheduled for November 7th, Nenagh CBS must beat Arscoil Ris from Limerick to stay in the hunt while Coláiste Cholmáin Fermoy play Gaelcholáiste Mhuire.
Nenagh CBS: Rory Brislane (Toomevara); Darragh Spillane (Toomevara), Rory O’Donovan (Nenagh Eire Og), Fiachra Starr (Nenagh Eire Og); Darragh Nolan (Silvermines), Darragh McKelvey (Silvermines), Sean Phelan (Nenagh Eire Og); Brian Keating (Portroe), Conor Hennessy (Nenagh Eire Og); Conor Bourke (Ballina), Sean Spillane (Silvermines), Conal Moran (Shannon Rovers); Kian O’Kelly (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Bryan McLoughney (Kiladangan, 1-4 frees), Kevin McCarthy (Toomevara 0-7, 4f). Subs: Ben Cooney (Burgess) for S Spillane, John McGrath (Kiladangan) for Bourke, Liam Heffernan (Nenagh Eire Og) for Moran.
2017 winners Our Lady's Templemore face a battle to even reach the knockout stages off the back of a 2-22 to 1-13 defeat to St John the Baptist Community School Hospital in Nenagh.
The East Limerick school who took command of the game around the quarter hour and never relinquished it, as they were far too slick and controlled for a disappointing Mid Tipp outfit who started four of the Tipperary minor side that won last years Munster title.
The early stages were played at a brisk pace with Hospital a point to the good (0-3 to 0-2) on seven minutes when Templemore struck for their goal with minor hurling all star James Devaney playing in Dean Lawlor who finished well from a tight angle.
Hospital responded well through a second point from Michael Martin and following a Gearoid O’Connor point for Templemore, the Limerick side struck for their first goal on eleven minutes as Ryan Tobin punished sloppiness in the Our Lady’s defence.
Tony Cahill quickly levelled but from here on Hospital raised their intensity levels with centre back Kevin Bonar to the fore while Ryan Tobin dropped back into midfield to great effect. Dylan O’Shea converted a free going before scoring a goal in the 18th minute, intercepting a loose John Campion handpass to fire low to the net and into a four point lead, which they maintained to the break, 2-8 to 1-7.
The Templemore management of Joe Gallagher and Noel Russell would have been hoping for a strong reaction from their side at the start of the second half and an early point from leading forward Gearoid O’Connor got them going.
However, there was never any semblance that the 2017 champions were going to wrestle back the initiative as they never got any closer than three points. Much of that was down to the performance of Hospital’s Brian O’Grady who scored six superb points from play from wing forward in the half, added to one in the first half, and for some poor finishing it his haul could have been greater.
As well as that, Dylan O’Shea was hugely accurate from frees from all angles and distances, finishing with 1-9, as Hospital pulled away in the closing quarter for a comfortable twelve point victory.
Our Lady's face a must win game against Blackwater Community School from Lismore in round 2 on Wednesday 7th November next to have any chance of making the knockout stages.
Our Lady’s Secondary School, Templemore: Ciaran McCormack (Loughmore/Castleiney); Jamie Ryan (Drom & Inch), Fintan Purcell (Drom & Inch), Henry Fogarty (Durlas Og); Shane Lowe (Moyne-Templetuohy), Kevin Maher (Borris-Ileigh 0-1f), Lorcan Roche (JK Brackens); John Campion (Drom & Inch 0-1), Kenny Ryan (Toomevara); Tony Cahill (Drom & Inch 0-1), Gearoid O’Connor (Moyne-Templetuohy 0-5, 2f), Conor Ryan (Loughmore/Castleiney 0-2); James Devaney (Borris-Ileigh 0-2f), Dean Lawlor (Moyne-Templetuohy 1-0), Conor McGrath (Loughmore/Castleiney 0-1). Sub: Eddie Ryan (Borris-Ileigh) for Cahill (53).
Thurles CBS had a bye in the opening round in group D where CBC Cork easily accounted for Castletroy College, who will be the Mid Tipp schools first opponents on 7th November.