Tipp schools unbeaten in Harty Cup openers

By Shane Brophy

Nenagh CBS 0-19

Midleton CBS 0-19

St Joseph’s CBS, Nenagh were held to a draw by Midleton CBS in the first game of their defendce of the Harty Cup in this group 4 clash in Ballyagran.

The holders began with only three starters - Conor Grace, Gavin McGrath, and Eoin Doughan - from last season’s history-making winning team. Three more - Austin Duff, captain Darragh Treacy, and Joe O’Dwyer - were introduced in that final win over Ardscoil Rís.

Midleton began the livelier and were 0-4 to 0-2 ahead after eight minutes. Thereafter, the Nenagh defence began to dominate and slow the rate of scores. Corner-back Grace even managed to get himself forward for a point. His was the fifth of five-in-a-row to leave Nenagh four ahead.

Behind by 0-12 to 0-8 at the break, Midleton were slow to make inroads for much of the second period. They brought Barry Walsh out to the 45 in a bid to gain more traction there and a late pair of points from Adam Lee earned them a share of the spoils.

Both teams have St Francis’ College, Rochestown as their next challenge in this three-team group.

Nenagh CBS: Evan Sherlock (Kiladangan 0-1f); Conor Grace (Burgess 0-1), Gavin McGrath (Kiladangan), Patrick Ryan (Borris-Ileigh); Diarmuid Fogarty (Kiladangan), Brehon O'Donnell (Silvermines), Liam O'Callaghan (Portroe); Cian Hogan (Portroe 0-1), Cormac Hoolan (Moneygall); Dara O'Dwyer (Kiladangan), Billy O'Brien (Nenagh Éire Óg 0-3), Shane Cleary (Kilruane MacDonaghs 0-2); Eoin Doughan (Moneygall 0-10, 9f), Darragh Treacy (Silvermines), Austin Duff (Toomevara). Subs: Joe O’Dwyer (Burgess 0-1) for O’Dwyer (40); Emmet Jones (Nenagh Éire Óg) for Hogan (51); Eoin Garrigan (Nenagh Éire Óg) for Jones (60+1).

Our Lady’s SS Templemore 3-25

Colaiste Choilm, Ballincollig 1-12

Our Lady's Secondary School, Templemore inflicted a heavy defeat on Ballincollig's Coláiste Choilm in this group 2 opener in Tipperary Town.

The first quarter ended 1-7 to 0-1, with Seán Stapleton scoring the goal after nine minutes, following an Eoin Boyle assist, as the victors would hit three of the last four points to lead 1-14 to 0-4 at half-time.

Coláiste Choilm’s Tadhg Murphy pointed to open the second-half, but it wasn't long before Templemore rattled the net once more through Philip O'Dwyer. Ballincollig did hit three of the next six points before Chris Dunne goaled for a third Templemore green flag as they saw out proceedings comfortably.

Our Lady’s SS, Templemore: Cormac Bourke (JK Brackens); Tommy Burke (JK Brackens), Shay Gleeson (Moneygall), Niall Delaney (JK Brackens); Mark Conroy (Drom & Inch), Cormac Cahill (Drom & Inch), Sean Walsh (JK Brackens); Cian Broderick (JK Brackens 0-3), Padraic O’Shea (JK Brackens 0-10, 9f); Jack Marnell (JK Brackens 0-4), Eoin Boyle (Borris-Ileigh 0-3), Richie Morris (Loughmore/Castleiney); Philip O’Dwyer (Upperchurch/Drombane 1-2), Sean Stapleton (Clonakenny 1-0), Chris Dunne (Gortnahoe/Glengoole 1-2). Subs: Joey Quinn (Loughmore/Castleiney 0-1) for Stapleton (39), Billy Collier (JK Brackens) for Conroy (53), Sean Burke (JK Brackens) for Boyle (53), Kieran Martin (JK Brackens) for Marnell (56), Darragh Hoare (Drom & Inch) for T Burke (59).

Thurles CBS 2-21

St Flannan’s College, Ennis 2-21

A late Thurles CBS turnaround salvaged a share of the spoils against St Flannan's College, Ennis in an entertaining group 6 opener in Cappamore.

Tipperary minor star Euan Murray came up trumps, advancing from centre-back to level the scores for a ninth time with what proved to be the last puck of the game.

Moments earlier, Thurles had earned a lifeline when Cormac Fitzpatrick went for a goal from a 21-yard free and duly bounced the sliotar to the net.

Thurles had done the front-running throughout the first half, but Flannan's looked likely winners after two Conor Ralph goals moved them four points ahead with a minute of normal time remaining.

The draw could see score difference come into play in a three-team group that also features competition debutants Tralee CBS. Thurles are first to face the Kerry representatives in three weeks' time.

Thurles jumped into 1-3 to 0-3 ahead from a route-one puck-out as Keith Loughnane's pass fell short of its target but was flicked by a defender onto Jack Hayes and ricocheted into the net. They added superb points from Kieran Rossiter, David Costigan, and Cillian Minogue to lead 1-11 to 0-12 at half time.

Flannan's were fired up, though, and soon executed a 1-4 burst to accelerate four ahead with the goal coming from Conor Ralph after 38 minutes. Thurles unleashed a strong response to reel off five points and retake the lead, substitute Ryne Bargary slotted a pair, Rossiter added his third, Evan Morris strode forward from full-back, and a Fitzpatrick free.

The game was finely balanced but lurched towards the Ennis school with Ralph's 55th-minute goal. Points from Kilroy and Paul O'Connell moved Flannan's four clear either side of Robbie Ryan's reply but when the captain was fouled with time almost up, Thurles found the goal they needed to reignite their troops.

Thurles CBS: Harry Loughnane (Roscrea); Jack Lahart (Holycross-Ballycahill), Evan Morris (Holycross-Ballycahill), Darragh McCahey (Loughmore-Castleiney); Toby Corbett (Upperchurch-Drombane), Euan Murray (Dúrlas Óg), Killian Cantwell (Moycarkey-Borris); Tiernan Ryan (Holycross-Ballycahill), Kieran Rossiter (Dúrlas Óg); David Costigan (Moycarkey-Borris), Robbie Ryan (Holycross-Ballycahill), Jack Hayes (Moycarkey-Borris); Cormac Fitzpatrick (Drom-Inch), Keith Loughnane (Thurles Sarsfields), Cillian Minogue (Dúrlas Óg). Subs: Ryne Bargary (Boherlahan-Dualla) for T Ryan (42), James Butler (Seán Treacys) for Cantwell (46).

Cashel CS 3-15

Charleville CBS 0-18

2023 champions Cashel Community got off win a winning start against last year’s semi-finalists Charleville CBS in Ballyporeen.

Goals from Ryan O’Sullivan and Briaín O’Donoghue in the first half, followed by Seamus Kennedy’s cool finish in the second, proved to be the difference as the Tipperary school avenged that last-eight defeat from the previous campaign.

Charleville’s hopes of surpassing, or even matching, last year’s run to the semi-finals suffered another severe blow in the final minute as star forward Chris Dunne, who claimed a stunning 0-15 of his side’s total (five from play) was shown a straight red card to potentially rule him out of their next fixture.

Cashel CS: Eoghan Dunne (Cashel King Cormacs); Rory O’Mahony (Fethard), Noah O’Flynn (Fethard), Tom O’Driscoll (Knockavilla-D Kickhams 0-1); Charlie Walsh (Fethard), Shane Cooney (Clerihan), Colm Ryan (Cashel King Cormacs 0-2); Sam Hall (Golden Kilfeacle 0-1), Briain O’Donoghue (Cashel King Cormacs 1-2), Kevin Hogan (Golden Kilfeacle); Colin Bourke (Rosegreen 0-7, 5f), Seamus Kennedy (Clonoulty/Rossmore 1-2), Ryan O’Sullivan (Clerihan 1-0). Subs: Cian Lonergan (Golden Kilfeacle) for O’Mahony (23), Conor Fogarty (Boherlahan-Dualla) for Hogan (42), Jamie Maloney (Golden Kilfeacle) for Walsh (56), Eimhin Ryan (Cashel Kings Cormacs) for O’Sullivan (56), Harry Fogarty (Golden Kilfeacle) for O’Driscoll (56).