Second quarter burst key to Thurles progression in Harty Cup

GAA: TUS Munster Post Primary Schools Senior ‘A’ Hurling - Dr. Harty Cup Quarter Finals

Thurles CBS 2-25

Ardscoil Rís, Limerick 0-23

Report: John O’Shea at UL North Campus

Thurles CBS are through to the semi-final of the Dr. Harty Cup after a blistering quarter final performance against Limerick’s Ardscoil Rís on Monday afternoon.

The foundation for this comprehensive victory was laid during the second quarter when they hit 2-10 without reply, the goals coming from Jack Hayes and Cormac Fitzpatrick.

This gave them a fifteen point half time advantage. During that period, the Limerick outfit had no answer to the pace, intensity, and power of the Thurles side, with centre forward David Costigan putting in a huge shift.

Ardscoil Rís were quickly off the mark with wing back Eoin Brosnan putting over inside the opening minute. Thurles quickly replied when Cormac Fitzpatrick hit the first of his six placed balls to tie the game for the first time, before David Costigan, Cillian Minogue and Jack Hayes all found the target.

Ardscoil were back on level terms by the sixth minute with points from Patrick Kearney, Eoin Brosnan, and Michael Collins. Fitzpatrick, from a free and Collins traded points as the sides were level for the third time by the tenth minute.

This free-flowing game was producing some excellent scores on both sides with play moving from end to end. David Costigan and Fitzpatrick eased Thurles to the front but three points from Patrick Kearney (free), Ian O’Brien and Michael Collins had Ardscoil one up on the quarter hour, 0-8 to 0-7. At this point, no one could have envisaged what was about to unfold for the following fifteen minutes.

Keith Loughnane brought the sides level for the fifth time with a good effort and Robbie Ryan brought the best out of goalkeeper Darragh Jordan, when he deflected over the crossbar. Cormac Fitzpatrick hit his fourth before Jack Hayes struck the first big blow, a goal to extend the lead out to five.

Ardscoil had no answer as the points came thick band fast over the final nine minutes of this opening period. Costigan was leading the attack by example, splitting the posts on two more occasions to bring his first half tally to four, while Fitzpatrick was unerring from play and placed balls. Robbie Ryan and Cillian Minogue both doubled their scores before Fitzpatrick landed the killer blow with a low shot that beat Darragh Jordan for a 2-17 to 0-8 half time lead.

Ardscoil Rís got the opening score after the restart, a point from Eoin Begley, but Thurles replied in triplicate, with points from Cillian Minogue, Cormac Fitzpatrick, and Jack Hayes. Ardscoil hit three of the next four points, but still trailed by fifteen at the three quarter mark.

The final quarter was Ardscoil’s best period on the scoreboard, but never looked like raising a green flag, content to put over from distance.

Thurles used this period to give game time to fringe players while also taking the foot off the gas. The final three points of the game came from the Limerick side in added time as Thurles ran out comprehensive winners.

They now play De La Salle College Waterford in the semi-final.

TEAMS - Thurles CBS: Harry Loughnane (Roscrea); Toby Corbett (Upperchurch/Drombane), Evan Morris (Holycross/Ballycahill), Jack Lahart (Holycross/Ballycahill); Killian Cantwell (Moycarkey/Borris), Keith Loughnane (Thurles Sarsfields), Ryne Bargary (Boherlahan-Dualla); Euan Murray (Dúrlas Óg), Kieran Rossiter (Dúrlas Óg); James Butler (Sean Treacys), David Costigan (Moycarkey/Borris), Cormac Fitzpatrick (Drom & Inch); Jack Hayes (Moycarkey/Borris), Cillian Minogue (Dúrlas Óg), Robbie Ryan (Holycross/Ballycahill, Capt).

Subs: Tiarnán Ryan (Holycross/Ballycahill) for Loughnane (42); Darragh Hickey (Emeralds) for Bargary (48); Leelan Donoghue (Dúrlas Óg) for Hayes (52); Zach O’Keeffe (Holycross/Ballycahill) for Butler (56), Ronan O’Brien (Thurles Sarsfields) for Minogue (56).

Ardscoil Ris, Limerick: Darragh Jordan; Conor Ryan, Sean Morrissey (Capt), Adam Fitzsimons; Darragh Gleeson, Jack Cosgrove, Eoin Brosnan; Malachy McKenna, Conor Conlon Ryan; Oisin O’Byrne, John O’Connor, Michael Collins; Eoin Begley, Ian O’Brien, Patrick Kearney.

Subs: Evan Ryan for Fitzsimons (HT); Rian Horgan for O’Byrne (HT), John O’Keeffe for O’Connor (HT), Cillian Murphy for Begley (48), Gavin O’Brien for Conlon Ryan (55).

Referee: Thomas Walsh (Waterford).