Strong start and finish sees Thurles CBS into Harty Cup final
GAA: TUS Munster Post Primary Schools Senior 'A' Hurling - Dr Harty Cup Semi-Final
Thurles CBS 0-28
De La Salle College 3-12
Report: John O’Shea in Castlelyons
MATCH DIGEST
Player of the Match: Cillian Minogue (Thurles CBS).
SCORERS - Thurles CBS: Cillian Minogue 0-7; Cormac Fitzpatrick 0-4 (3 frees, 1 ‘65), Robbie Ryan, David Costigan 0-4 each; Evan Morris, Ryne Bargary, Kieran Rossiter 0-2 each; Toby Corbett, Tiarnán Ryan, Euan Murray 0-1 each.
De La Salle College: Mark Hartley 1-5 (0-3 frees), Shane Power 1-2; Conor Tobin 1-0; Adam Regan 0-2; Colm Hartley (pen), Rory Jacob, Ollie Fives 0-1.
Thurles CBS booked their place in the final of Dr. Harty Cup for the first time since 2023 after they accounted for De La Salle College Waterford by seven points last Wednesday.
The foundations for this victory was laid in an opening quarter where they hit nine points, eight from play, against two from the Waterford side. De La Salle came more into the game during the second quarter with Conor Tobin getting in for a rather fortuitous goal, eight minutes before the interval, when he capitalised on hesitancy in the Thurles defence following a long delivery from outfield. Coming up to half time they were given another chance when awarded a penalty, but Colm Hartley’s effort in added time skimmed over the crossbar, leaving five between the sides at the break, Thurles CBS 0.15, De La Salle 1.7.
After the restart, De La Salle were quickly into the game and were on level terms for the first time following a second goal from Shane Power and points from Adam Regan and Mark Hartley.
However, Thurles were quickly back in their stride and hit four unanswered points before Mark Hartley intercepted a wild clearance before firing a third major past Harry Loughnane after 52 minutes. This brought the Waterford side within one point, but this was as close as it got coming down the home straight.
Cillian Minogue showed all his class, polishing off a man of the match performance, with the game in the melting pot, hitting three minors in a ninety second period, while wing back Ryne Bargary slotted over two more as the Waterford challenge fizzled out over those final minutes.
The Game
Following the throw-in, Thurles CBS were quickly off the mark with Cormac Fitzpatrick converting a placed ball after three minutes. Midfielder, Kieran Rossiter doubled this advantage two minutes later before Adam Regan pulled one back.
The next ten minutes were completely dominated by the CBS as De La Salle floundered and were unable to get to the pitch of the game. David Costigan put over a good score before Keith Rossiter found Robbie Ryan in the corner to set up his opening point. Cillian Minogue hit two in the space of a minute, the second coming when he latched on to a breaking ball.
With the CBS defence in top form, their attack were getting quality ball and Keith Rossiter availed of a pass from Keith Loughnane to put over point number seven after ten minutes. Euan Murray and Robbie Ryan added to the tally before Mark Hartley converted his first placed ball, in a game where both defences were very disciplined, not giving away easy frees.
De La Salle created their first clear goal chance, but Jack Lahart cleared off the line, denying Conor Tobin after nineteen minutes. Three minutes later, Tobin found the target when he capitalised on hesitancy in the defence, allowing Colm Hartley to set up the goal. Directly from the puckout Robbie Ryan split the posts before Rory Jacob and Ollie Fives got their names on the scoresheet with two well-worked points.
Thurles finished the half well, with points from David Costigan (2) and one each from Cillian Minogue and Evan Morris. Coming up to the break, De La Salle were awarded a penalty after a ball came back off the upright and Tobin was adjudged to have been fouled in the square. However, Colm Hartley blazed over the crossbar for a minor, to leave Thurles five to the good at half time.
De La Salle were quickly out of the blocks after the restart with Adam Regan firing over inside the opening minute following a good pass from Mark Hartley. Within a minute, Shane Power found the net after his brother Conor had split the defence with a run from midfield. By the 34th minute the game was tied after Mark Hanley fired over his third minor.
David Costigan got in for his fourth point following a big run from midfield, before Shane Power capitalised on a wayward clearance to bring the sides level for the second time. Toby Corbett was coming more outfield and turned over a puck out before drawing a free, from which Cormac Fitzpatrick found the target. Corbett himself then added a point to ease the advantage out to two.
Thurles then had a half goal chance, but Cillian Minogue’s shot was deflected out for a 65, which Fitzpatrick converted. Cillian Minogue and Mark Hanley traded scores as the game headed towards the final ten minutes. Toby Corbett set up Evan Morris and the full back put over his second from a distance.
With eight minutes of normal time remaining, Mark Hartley intercepted a wild clearance before firing a third major past Harry Loughnane. This brought the Waterford side within one point, but Thurles raised their game and coming down the straight outscored their rivals by seven points to one and scoring the last five of the game.
With the game in the melting pot, the CBS stood tall with Cillian Minogue showing all his class, firing over three in a ninety second spell, one after he intercepted a short puckout. Ryne Bargary hit two while Cormac Fitzpatrick and substitute Tiarnán Ryan ensured a final appearance for the CBS, as they go in search of title number nine and a first since 2015.
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 (Capt, Holycross/Ballycahill).
Subs: Tiarnán Ryan (Holycross/Ballycahill) for Butler (37), Leelan Donoghue (Dúrlas Óg) for Hayes (57), Darragh Hickey (Emeralds) for Bargary (60+1).
De La Salle College, Waterford: Ross Nolan; Philip Power, Fiachra Cooney, Adam Dawson, Cathal O’Sullivan, Conor Power, Jack Power, Rory Jacob, Ollie Fives, Adam Regan, Conor Tobin, Shane Power, Colm Hartley, Mark Hartley, Robbie Doherty.
Subs: Eoin Burke for Doherty (45), Jamie Shanahan for Tobin (52 inj).
Referee: Cathal MacAllister (Cork).