Nenagh CBS win first Harty Cup with last gasp goal

Nenagh CBS were crowned Dr Harty Cup champions for the first time after Andy Hoolan’s last gasp injury time goal saw them snatch victory over Ardscoil Ris from Limerick in a thrilling final on Saturday.

GAA: Munster Post Primary Schools Senior ‘A’ Hurling – Dr. Harty Cup Final

Nenagh CBS 2-16

Ardscoil Ris, Limerick 0-21

Report: Shane Brophy at Cusack Park, Ennis

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Ciaran Foley (Nenagh CBS)

SCORERS – Nenagh CBS: Darragh McCarthy 0-7 (4 frees); Austin Duff 1-1; Eoghan Doughan, Mason Cawley 0-3 each; Andy Hoolan 1-0; Ciaran Foley 0-2.

Ardscoil Ris, Limerick: Fintan Fitzgerald, Marc O’Brien (1 free) 0-5 each; Daniel Chaplin (2 frees), Michael Collins 0-3 each; Eoin Begley 0-2; Daniel Scully, Darragh Gleeson, Patrick Kearney 0-1 each.

Neither side showed any nerves in the opening moments with Darragh McCarthy getting Nenagh off the mark after 47 seconds, immediately responded to by Fintan Fitzgerald, the first of four points in the half from the Ardscoil Ris joint-captain.

Mason Cawley nudged Nenagh back in front with Daniel Scully responding before Marc O’Brien gave the Limerick school their first lead on four minutes, doubled by Eoin Begley.

Eoghan Doughan responded with a fine Nenagh point but Ardscoil were using the ball better and forged into a three point lead after points from Daniel Chaplin (free) and Fintan Fitzgerald.

Eoghan Doughan respond with a timely point for Nenagh, but Ardscoil Ris were adept at finding space with Fitzgerald landing two long range points, along with Chaplin free for a four point lead on eighteen minutes.

Nenagh were under pressure, but captain Darragh McCarthy won a free which he converted before sub Austin Duff made an immediate impact, a point with his first touch before somehow finding the back of the net in the 28th minute to bring them within one with Eoghan Doughan’s third point of the half bringing the sides level at the break, 1-8 to 0-11.

The close nature of proceedings continued at the start of the second half as the sides scored four points apiece before Nenagh opened a two point lead on 42 minutes with Darragh McCarthy adding two of his seven point haul.

Just as Nenagh were getting on top, back came the Limerick side with sub Darragh Gleeson, Eoin Begley and the superb Fintan Fitzgerald on target to edge back in front on 48 minutes.

A superb point by man of the match Ciaran Foley brough the sides level on 51 minutes before the game went scoreless for six minutes so the next score would be crucial and Nenagh edged back in front with another Foley point.

However, Michael Collins levelled for Ardscoil before he won a free which Marc O’Brien converted for a lead going into two minutes of added time. Sub Patrick Kearney scored a superb individual point which meant Nenagh needed a goal and in the frantic final play, sub Brian O’Meara forced a superb save from Fionn O’Brien, but Nenagh managed to keep the ball alive and in a goalmouth scramble, Andy Hoolan managed to force the ball over the line to secure an historic first Munster Senior ‘A’ Hurling title for Nenagh CBS.

TEAMS – Nenagh CBS: Simon Grace (Ballina); Conor Grace (Burgess), Cian Connolly (Nenagh Eire Og), Gavin McGrath (Kiladangan); Andy Hoolan (Moneygall), Jake Hackett (Toomevara), Jack Doran (Toomevara); Ciaran Foley (Borrisokane), Mason Cawley (Nenagh Eire Og); Jack Mulcahy (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Darragh McCarthy (Toomevara), Zac Keller (Nenagh Eire Og); Aodhan O’Connor (Nenagh Eire Og), Danny Quinn (Silvermines), Eoghan Doughan (Moneygall).

Sub: Austin Duff (Toomevara) for Quinn (25); Darragh Treacy (Silvermines) for Keller (48); Joe O’Dwyer (Burgess) for Mulcahy (51); Brian O’Meara (Kilruane MacDonaghs) for O’Connor (55).

Ardscoil Ris, Limerick: Fionn O’Brien; John O’Keeffe, Sean McMahon, Sean Morrissey; James Finn, Jamie Moylan, Daniel Scully; Riain McNamara, Matthew O’Halloran; Michael Collins, Fintan Fitzgerald, Diarmuid Stritch; Daniel Chaplin, Marc O’Brien, Eoin Begley.

Subs: Darragh Gleeson for O’Keeffe (HT); Patrick Kearney for Chaplin (38); Jack Cosgrove for Stritch (58); Sean Arthur for Collins (60+2).

Referee: Cathal McAllister (Cork).