Nenagh and Thurles progress with Templemore in good shape to join them

Group 1

Midleton CBS are top of the group with two wins from two while CBC Cork have two points with Rice College, Ennis and Scoil an Trionoide Doon on one point. In the final round, Midleton take on Doon and CBC take on Rice College

Group 2 – Thurles CBS 2-22 St Joseph’s SS, Tulla 2-13

A free-scoring second half display from Thurles CBS helped them comfortably seal consecutive victories in the Harty Cup over St Joseph’s of Tulla.

Propelled forward at every opportunity by midfield duo David Costigan and Euan Murray, the victors had ball winners in every line and despite reaching double figures on the wides count, were far too strong for a Tulla side that battled gamely to the final whistle.

Murray, who is still just 15 years of age, played well while it was the forwards who really caught the eye. Cormac Fitzpatrick was accurate from frees, while Robbie Ryan looked a serious threat every time he gathered possession. Indeed, Darragh Kelly and James Doyle also got on top for long periods.

Leading 0-10 to 0-6 at half-time on the Maguires astroturf at UL, Thurles had seven points from the busy Fitzpatrick, including two from play.

Tulla did emerge from the half-time huddle energised and hunted a goal. From the throw-in sub Jack Slattery was denied by a superb Harry Loughnane save, before Liam Murphy whipped over. Loughnane’s save was only outdone by another four minutes later, this time he spread himself to deny Dara White what would have been a levelling goal. Instead, those from the Premier scored five of the next six white flags before White netted for Tulla. Breaking onto a loose ball, White tidied up well and blasted to the net, but his side still trailed by five – 1-9 to 0-17. The result was beyond doubt when sub Darragh Carr produced a low finish from an acute angle in the 50th minute.

The openness of the final ten minutes saw both sides find another goal. James Doyle fed Costigan who made an overlapping run for a second CBS major. Then Corbett drilled home a quickly executed free for the Clare outfit.

Ultimately, CBS Thurles were comfortable in the closing stages as they can look forward to the mid-term break having put themselves firmly in control of the group. They meet Pobalscoil na Trínóide Youghal, who are already eliminated, in the final round. For Tulla, a winner-takes-all tie with St. Colman’s Fermoy is their next hurdle.

Thurles CBS: H Loughnane (Roscrea); P Noonan (Thurles Sarsfields), E Morris (Holycross/Ballycahill), K Purcell (Thurles Sarsfields); K Loughnane (Durlas Óg), P O'Dwyer (Killenaule), E O'Dwyer (Boherlahan-Dualla); E Murray (Durlas Óg), D Costigan (Moycarkey/Borris 1-3); R Ryan (Holycross/Ballycahill 0-5), J Doyle (Holycross/Ballycahill 0-1), B Flanagan (Moycarkey/Borris); C Fitzpatrick (Drom & Inch 0-12, 9f), D Kelly (Eire Óg Annacarty 0-1), L Corcoran (Moycarkey/Borris) Subs: R Bargary (Boherlahan-Dualla) for O’Dwyer (39); C Minogue (Durlas Óg) for Corcoran (39); D Carr (Sean Treacy’s 1-0) for Flanagan (45); D McCormack (Killenaule) for H Loughnane (55); D O’Dwyer (Moycarkey/Borris) for K Loughnane (59).

Group 3

Ardscoil Ris, Limerick are top of the table on four points with St Flannan’s College, Ennis on two and Colaiste Choilm Ballincollig and De La Salle Waterford on one point. In the final round, Ardscoil Ris take on De La Salle while St Flannan’s take on Ballincollig.

Group 4 - Nenagh CBS 4-27 Hamilton High School, Bandon 4-14

Nenagh CBS booked their place in the knockout stages of the Dr Harty Cup with a big win over Hamilton High School, Bandon in Banteer.

It was Nenagh’s inside forward line that did most of the damage, particularly captain Darragh McCarthy, who was their key man with 1-12, joined by Aodhán O’Connor (2-3) and Danny Quinn (1-1) – as they contributed 4-16 between them.

Nenagh CBS moved ahead 0-8 to 0-4 after quarter of an hour before Hamilton got a tonic of a goal from Luke Griffin in the 21st minute to level. A couple of minutes later, Michael Maguire added a second goal as Bandon moved 2-5 to 0-9 in front. Then it was Nenagh’s turn to surge, Darragh McCarthy (2) and Eoghan Doughan fired points. And when Aodhán O’Connor took McCarthy’s perfectly timed delivery, he turned and blasted his side’s opening goal for a 1-14 to 2-7 half time lead.

Straight from the restart, Nenagh continued where they left off as Aodhán O’Connor was in the right place to get his second goal, and when they grabbed points from Jake Hackett, Michael Ryan, and McCarthy (free).

But the Bandon response was admirable, as Sean Mac an tSaoi converted a penalty. However, the more experienced Nenagh came to life again, in particular Darragh McCarthy, substitute Austin Duff and Danny Quinn, the latter finishing another goal in the 47th minute for a fourteen-point lead.

But there was no coming back when Nenagh CBS struck for goal number four, and who else but McCarthy, who applied the finish.

Nenagh CBS found themselves down to 14 players after hard-working defender Gavin McGrath was forced off injured five minutes from time and they had used their full complement of subs. Around the same time, Sean Mac an tSaoi batted the eighth goal of the game.

In this three-team group, Nenagh finish top having played their two games with Bandon and Charleville meeting in a key final round game to see who progresses to the preliminary quarter finals.

Nenagh CBS: S Grace (Ballina); C Grace (Burgess), A Hoolan (Moneygall), G McGrath (Kiladangan); J Doran (Toomevara), C Connolly (Nenagh Éire Óg), L O’Callaghan (Portroe); C Foley (Borrisokane), J Hackett (Toomevara 0-3); M Ryan (Burgess 0-2), E Doughan (Moneygall 0-3), Z Keller (Nenagh Éire Óg); D Quinn (Silvermines 1-1), D McCarthy (Toomevara, Capt, 1-12, 0-8f), A O’Connor (Nenagh Éire Óg 2-3). Subs: A Duff (Toomevara 0-2) for Keller (HT), J Mulcahy (Kilruane MacDonaghs 0-1) for Doughan (43), C Cooney (Burgess) for Foley (47), D Treacy (Silvermines) for Ryan (48), B O’Donnell (Silvermines) for Grace (48).

Group 5 - Castletroy College 1-16 Carrick-on-Suir CBS 0-17

Castletroy College closed out their group campaign with a narrow victory over CBS Carrick-on-Suir in UL.

The Limerick school will face an anxious wait, as in this three-team group, all three may end up on two points, with John the Baptist Hospital yet to face the Tipperary school.

Having suffered a second-half collapse to lose by seven to their Limerick rivals in round 1, Castletroy were led by accurate free-taker Dara Ferland, while midfielder Robert O’Farrell chipped in healthy on the scoresheet.

Carrick hung in during the hour, with the game threatening to get away from them early in the first half, as they made a long-awaited return to the top tier of schools hurling.

By the 20th minute, it was 1-6 to 0-3 to the Limerick outfit, who’d seen Mark Field finish one handed to the net. Eventually, those in red and black found their groove, and rattled off the final five points of the half. Niall O’Brien book ended this run with two frees, while Stefan Tobin and David Comerford also got in on the action as Castletroy led by one at the short whistle.

The sides were level thanks to a quick Gearoid Power effort but Castletroy, courtesy of a point from O’Farrell and three Ferland frees, moved clear again. There was just a point in it when O’Brien landed a 52nd minute free, while the pick of their scores arrived from Comerford who pointed from near the sideline.

As the clock moved into the red, Mark Field pushed Castletroy three clear, before Tobin’s ambitious effort for a goal flew over.

A win for John the Baptist over Carrick-on-Suir will see both Limerick sides through, while a Tipperary success will see scoring difference required with Hospital currently holding the advantage.

Carrick-on-Suir CBS: S Cronin (Piltown); B Moriarty (Piltown), E Reid (Carrick Swan), C Phelan (St. Molleran’s); C Shankey (Portlaw), A Phelan (Piltown 0-1), D Barry (Carrick Swan), D Dunne (Carrick Swan); A O’Halloran (Carrick Swan), G Power (Clonea 0-2), S Foley (Carrick Swan); N O’Brien (Piltown 0-7f), S Tobin (Carrick Swan 0-3), D Comerford (St. Molleran’s 0-4). Sub: C Smith (Carrick Swan) for Foley (40).

Group 6 - Our Lady’s SS, Templemore 0-21 Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG 2-13

Jamie Ormond scored a whopping sixteen points to give Our Lady’s Templemore a winning start to their Harty Cup campaign in Fethard.

Our Lady’s were worthy winners, leading from the front and only once headed by the AG, who had Cork U20 All-Ireland winner Ross Ó Súilleabháin (0-10) in fine form.

However, this was the Ormond show for most of the hour. The JK Brackens rising star scored fifteen of Our Lady’s first sixteen points until the cavalry charge carried them over the line.

The sides were tied 0-10 to 1-7 at half time and facing into the breeze, Templemore managed to surge four clear, before Lucas Ó Muirthile goaled for the Cork side.

Our Lady’s final push clinched it. Jamie Ormond caught a puck-out, laying off for Joey Quinn to fire over, and even when Ormond mishit a 65, O’Dwyer tidied it up for a point.

There was a nervy moment when DJ Ó Cofaigh billowed the net but by then, the three minutes of stoppage time were up.

In a three-team group, North Mon have completed their group-stage schedule with a win and a loss to their name while Templemore face holders Cashel CS in the concluding game on November 15th with Templemore needing a win or a draw to progress while Cashel need to win. A one - or two-point Cashel win would send the two Tipperary schools through, while a three-point win would send it to the 'total scores for' tiebreaker.

Our Lady’s SS, Templemore: M Ryan (Loughmore-Castleiney); T Burke (JK Brackens), E Kennedy (Drom & Inch), C Sheedy (JK Brackens); TJ Kinane (Drom & Inch 0-1), T Corcoran (JK Brackens), S Gleeson (Clonakenny/Moneygall); C Cahill (Drom & Inch), M Cahill (JK Brackens); J Marnell (JK Brackens), C O’Shea (JK Brackens 0-1), S Stapleton (Clonakenny/Moneygall); J Quinn (Loughmore/Castleiney 0-1), J Ormond (JK Brackens, Capt, 0-16, 10f, 3 65s), E Boyle (Borris-Ileigh). Sub: P O’Dwyer (Upperchurch/Drombane 0-2) for Sheedy (HT).

FORMAT

Following the conclusion of round 3 on November 15th, four of the six group winners will progress straight to the quarter finals in early January while the two remaining group winners and six runners-up will contest Preliminary quarter-finals on November 29th.