Nenagh CBS exit Harty Cup in a dramatic finale
CBC Cork 2-14
Nenagh CBS 2-12
Nenagh CBS exited the Harty Cup following a dramatic conclusion to their quarter final against CBC Cork.
Three minutes into added time, Nenagh trailed by two points despite having played the last twenty minutes with a man advantage after CBC corner back Conor Murphy was sent off for a second bookable offence.
The sides were level at the time but Nenagh never managed to make the extra man count and when they fell behind going into injury time, it looked bleak. However, Kevin McCarthy won a free on the 21 yard line to the left of the goal but it was moved to the centre due to dissent, allowing Bryan McLoughney the opportunity and he rifled a low shot to the net.
It should have been enough to win the game but referee Johnny Murphy allowed one last play from where the Nenagh defence was caught short with Niall Harnett drifted onto the ball and he could have taken the point to force extra time but Declan Hanlon was on his inside and giving off the pass, the midfielder broke the tackle of Conor O'Brien to fire the ball to the net to end Nenagh's dreams of a first Harty Cup success.
Overall, there was very little to separate the sides on the day with CBC leading 1-6 to 0-7 at half time with Padraig Power's goal close to the break, giving them the edge, although Nenagh were unlucky with Sean Hayes and Ben Cooney both seeing goal chances hitting the post early on.
Nenagh sent Conor McKelvey into the fray at the start of the second half and within six minutes of the restart who forced home a scrappy goal to bring Nenagh level at the time and with a man advantage, things were looking good but CBC defended well and took their chances on the break to go three points clear before the dramatic finale.
MATCH DIGEST
SCORERS – CBC Cork: Padraig Power 1-8 (0-7 frees, 0-1 65); Declan Hanlon 1-1; Shane Barrett 0-3 (1 s-cut); Owen McCarthy, Cillian O'Donovan (free) 0-1 each.
Nenagh CBS: Bryan McLoughney 1-8 frees; Conor McKelvey 1-0; Kevin McCarthy, Conal Moran 0-2 each.
TEAMS – CBC Cork: Cian Long; Conor Murphy, Peadar Hennessy, David Barry; Gearoid Mulcahy, Iarlaith Daly, Cillian O'Donovan; Declan Hanlon, Kevin Finn; Shane Barrett, Niall Hartnett, Padraig Power; Owen McCarthy, Patrick McBarron, Jack Cahalane.
Sub: James Scally for McBarron (51).
Nenagh CBS: Rory Brislane (Toomevara); Darragh Spillane (Toomevara), Conor O'Brien (Portroe), John O'Meara (Kiladangan); Conor Bourke (Ballina), Darragh McKelvey (Silvermines), Sean Phelan (Nenagh Eire Og); Conor Hennessey (Nenagh Eire Og), Darragh Nolan (Silvermines); Conan Moran (Shannon Rovers), Kevin McCarthy (Toomevara), Kian O'Kelly (Kilruane MacDonaghs); Bryan McLoughney (Kiladangan), Sean Hayes (Kiladangan), Ben Cooney (Burgess).
Subs: Conor McKelvey (Silvermines) for Spillane (HT); Michael Corcoran (Silvermines) for O'Meara (54); Oisin Murphy (Silvermines) for Phelan (56 inj).
Referee: Johnny Murphy (Limerick)
Elsewhere in the quarter finals, Thurles CBS and St John the Baptist Hospital will have to do it all again after their quarter final ended Thurles CSS 3-31 St. John the Baptist Hospital 4-28, after two periods of extra time. Our Lady's Templemore suffered a heavy 7-15 to 0-19 defeat to Midleton CBS.
However, there was some bright news from Borrisokane Community College who defeated Colaiste Threasa Kanturk 5-14 to 1-8 to progess to the semi-finals in the 'C' competition.