Nenagh cruise past Cork cousins in Harty Cup quarter final
GAA: TUS Munster Post Primary Schools Senior ‘A’ Hurling Quarter Finals
Nenagh CBS2-16
CBC Cork 0-6
Report: John O’Shea in Bansha
St Joseph’s CBS Nenagh are through to the Dr. Harty Cup semi-finals for the first time since 2017 following their sixteen point demolition of Christian Brothers College Cork before a good crowd at a cold Bansha last Wednesday.
As they had topped a three-team group in the round-robin section they didn’t feature in a preliminary quarter final before Christmas. They showed no ill effects of their long lay-off since late October as they took the game to their Cork opponents from the off.
Led by their chief marksmen, Darragh McCarthy and Danny Quinn, they set down a marker early-on and led 1-7 to 0-4 at the break, the goal coming from Quinn after eleven minutes, after good work by Eoghan Doughan. This six-point interval lead should have been more as they squandered several chances with wayward shooting on a day where a wind was non-existent.
The second half produced more of the same as they hit five points without reply during the opening ten minutes, effectively killing off the game as a contest. The game was well and truly over when McCarthy combined with Aodhan O’Connor for a second major eleven minutes from time.
This Nenagh victory was built on a solid half back performance where Jack Doran, Jake Hackett and Andy Hoolan were superb. Behind them Kiladangan clubman Gavin McGrath mopped up ball time and time again.
The expected CBC second half comeback never materialised as Nenagh upped their game after the break, with captain and Toomevara clubman Darragh McCarthy pulling the strings. He finished this game with eleven points to his credit, including three from play. Indeed, this tally could have been far more were it not for some wayward shooting.
Nenagh CBS were quickly off the mark and got the non-existent scoreboard ticking over inside the opening minute when Darragh McCarthy opened his account from a placed ball. The half backline were quickly into action and never allowed the CBC forwards settle on the ball. Wing back, Andy Hoolan was particularly impressive from the start and dispatched good quality ball to an eager attack.
Danny Quinn and Eoghan Doughan were beginning to cause problems to the CBC inside defence. Doughan was hauled down in an attack and McCarthy punished the Cork outfit after five minutes. He followed up with his third minor two minutes later as Nenagh found gaps in the Cork defence.
Midfielder, Andy Hourigan got CBS off the mark after eight minutes and followed up with a second point two minutes later, cutting the deficit to the minimum. This was as near as the Cork side would get for the remainder of the contest.
A double strike from Danny Quinn around twelve minutes gave Nenagh a 1-4 to 0-2 lead, the goal coming after good work by Eoghan Doughan.
Nenagh were finding and creating space all over the field, but this was not reflecting on the scoreboard. Diarmuid Wall and McCarthy traded placed balls before Peter O’Shea fired over from fifty meters after a penetrating run from Andy Hourigan. Darragh McCarthy had the final say of this low-key half when he converted two placed balls, one from a 65, to put his side six to the good at the half way stage.
The second half followed in a similar pattern as the opening period, with McCarthy chipping in with two points from open play inside two minutes, the second one after good work involving Jack Mulcahy and Aodhan O’Connor.
Christians then produced what was their best goal chance. A long ball from centre back Conor McCarthy was broken down but the resulting ground shot went outside the post at the village end and with it any chance of getting back in the game. A goal attempt from a twenty meter free was also cleared to safety as Nenagh took control.
Eoghan Doughan whipped over two points in succession as the Nenagh forwards found extra space. The game ended as a contest with eleven minutes remaining when Darragh McCarthy put through Aodhan O’Connor, and the Nenagh Eire Og man made no mistake from close-in.
The final ten minutes was all Nenagh as the pressed home their advantage, eventually running out sixteen point winners and earning a semi-final clash with another Cork side Charleville CBS, as they seek a first final appearance since 2012.
Player of the Match: Darragh McCarthy (Nenagh CBS)
Nenagh CBS: Simon Grace (Ballina); Conor Grace (Burgess), Cian Connolly (Nenagh Eire Og), Gavin McGrath (Kiladangan); Jack Doran (Toomevara), Jake Hackett (Toomevara), Andy Hoolan (Moneygall, 0-1); Ciaran Foley (Borrisokane, 0-1), Darragh McCarthy (Toomevara, 0-11, 8f, Capt); Jack Mulcahy (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Mason Cawley (Nenagh Eire Og), Zack Keller (Nenagh Eire Og); Aodhan O’Connor (Nenagh Eire Og, 1-0), Danny Quinn (Silvermines, 1-1), Eoghan Doughan (Moneygall, 0-2).
Subs: Austin Duff (Toomevara) for Keller (HT), Brian O’Meara (Kilruane MacDonaghs) for Cawley (48), Darragh Treacy (Silvermines) for Mulcahy (51), Micheal Ryan (Burgess) for Doughan (57), Conor Cooney (Burgess) for O’Connor (60).
CBC Cork: Eoin Coughlan; James O’Callaghan Maher, Donncha Collins, Jack Huggins; Ross Buckley, Conor McCarthy (Glen Rovers), Darragh Browne; Andy Hourigan (0-2), Peter O’Shea (Capt, 0-2); Michael Brosnan, Brian Nolan, Ben Mayer; Diarmuid Wall (0-2f), Conor McCarthy (St Finbarr’s), Peter Lehane.
Subs: Joe Cronin for McCarthy (St. Finbarr’s, 38), Jack Hegarty for Nolan (38), Cian Lawless (Blarney) for Lehane (45), Jack O’Farrell for Wall (52), Mark Scally for Browne (52).
Referee: Jack Bugler (Clare).