Harty Cup Q-F – Thurles CBS 2-8 Gaelcolaiste Mhuire AG 1-10

Thurles CBS defeated Gaelcolaiste Mhuire AG by 2-8 to 1-10 in the first of the Munster GAA Post Primary Schools Dr. Harty Cup Quarter-Finals on Friday January 9th at Kilmallock.

Click to view photos from the game

First half goals by Jack Butler and Billy McCarthy helped Thurles to a 2-4 to 0-7 interval lead when playing against a gale force windd. However, the second half was a different affair as a wasteful Thurles went 21 minutes without scoring while racking up a total of 20 wides. Gaelcolaiste Mhuire AG defended heroically in the second half and had a couple of chances to send the game to extra time but Thurles held out for a one point victory. After the final whistle, Thurles wing-back Ronan Heffernan received a straight red card and will miss the semi-final.

Narrow victory for Thurles thanks to goals

By Denis Hurley, Kilmallock for the Irish Examiner newspaper

Dr Harty Cup quarter-final

Thurles CBS (Tipperary) 2-8 Gaelcoláiste Mhuire AG (Cork) 1-10

Despite posting 15 second-half wides, Thurles CBS held on to advance past Gaelcholáiste Mhuire and into the Dr Harty Cup semi-finals at Kilmallock yesterday. Leading 2-4 to 0-7 at half-time and with the wind to come, competition favourites Thurles appeared set to push on and book their last-four spot with ease. A combination of poor shooting and a dogged Gaelcholáiste display made for a closer-than-expected second-half, but, ultimately, the Cork city school couldn’t get level.

Selector Martin Maher acknowledged afterwards the first-half goals from Jack Butler and Billy McCarthy, which helped them lead 2-4 to 0-7 at the break, were crucial.

“Conditions were difficult,” he said, “both sides had wides and the wind was swirling. We’re just delighted to get over the line. The goals really brought us into the game. They started well but we gained confidence from the first goal and then maybe we were lucky to get the second. There was nothing simple there. It was a quick turnaround coming back after Christmas but we have a few weeks now to prepare for the semi-final.”

Thurles were left standing as AG roared into life, scoring five points in the opening eight minutes, Donal Ó Conaing and Adam Ó Donnabháin impressing in attack and Eadbhard Ó Conaing on top at the back. The Tipperary school served notice of their intentions as Butler was denied by a Darragh Ó Conaill save in the 12th minute and a minute later Thurles’ brightest attacker had the ball in the net, finishing well after Robbie Long’s delivery broke.

Butler followed that with a point and while Donal Ó Conaing responded with a free for the AG, Thurles then struck for a second goal. This time Butler was the provider for midfielder McCarthy, who fired past Ó Conaill. Further points from Ronan Teehan and Robbie Long – who also drew a fine save from Ó Conaill – meant three points separated the sides at half-time and Brendan Kelly’s brace at the start of the second-half suggested an inevitability about the outcome.

In the 36th minute, Gaelcholáiste Mhuire seized a lifeline, however. Somehow, energetic midfielder Dayne Ó Laoi – who will feature for Cork against UL in the Waterford Crystal Cup today – made his way through four challenges and, though he was only able to get in a one-handed shot, the ball nested in the net to leave it 2-6 to 1-7.

Thurles created enough chances to pull clear again but the target remained elusive and they had 10 second-half wides by the 45th minute. The AG couldn’t take full advantage but Ó Laoi, with a great point on the run, did manage to bring them back to within a point. A Donal Ó Conaing free might have levelled but Thurles full-back Enda Heffernan did well to bring the ball down on the goal-line.

Eventually, Thurles’ drought was ended by Butler, though Donal Ó Conaing replied immediately and did so again after Niall Heffernan nailed a difficult free. Deep into injury time, the AG were afforded one final chance when Evan Ó Síocháin found possession on the left but Dillon Quirke forced him wide and his low effort was saved by William Tierney. That was the last action, though an incident after the final whistle saw referee Richard Moloney red-card Thurles’ Ronan Heffernan, who may miss the semi-final against Castletroy College or Youghal’s Pobalscoil na Tríonóide.

Scorers for Thurles CBS: J Butler 1-2, B McCarthy 1-0, B Kelly, R Long 0-2 each, R Teehan, N Heffernan 0-1 (free) each.

Scorers for Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG: D Ó Laoi 1-3, D Ó Conaing 0-5 (four frees), A Ó Donnabháin 0-2.

THURLES CBS: W Tierney (Thurles Sarsfields); D Quirke (Clonoulty-Rossmore), J Derby (Thurles Sarsfields), E Heffernan (Clonoulty-Rossmore); J Skehan (Holycross-Ballycahill), C McCullagh (Moycarkey-Borris), R Heffernan (Clonoulty-Rossmore); B McCarthy (Thurles Sarsfields), C Moloney (Thurles Sarsfields); R Teehan (Gortnahoe-Glengoole), K Duggan (Galmoy), N Heffernan (Moycarkey-Borris); B Kelly (Rathdowney-Errill), R Long (Drom & Inch), J Butler (Upperchurch-Drombane).
Subs: M Connors (Drom & Inch) for Duggan (47), M Stakelum (Holycross-Ballycahill) for Kelly (54, injured), R Purcell (Thurles Sarsfields) for Teehan (60).

GAELCHOLÁISTE MHUIRE AG: D Ó Conaill (Na Piarsaigh); A Ó Súilleabháin (Glen Rovers), E Ó Conaing (Na Piarsaigh), R Ó Meara (Na Piarsaigh); A Breathnach (Na Piarsaigh), J Ó Muireasa (Na PIarsaigh), E Ó Caoimh (Na Piarsaigh); L Ó Cochláin (Glen Rovers), D Ó Laoi (Na Piarsaigh); C Ó hAinifín (Na Piarsaigh), E Ó Laoire (Na Piarsaigh), K Ó hEathairn (Na Piarsaigh); D Ó Conaing (Na Piarsaigh), A Ó Donnabháin (Glen Rovers), E Ó Síocháin (Na Piarsaigh).
Subs: B Ó Ceallacháin (Na Piarsaigh) for Breathnach (24, injured), P de Faoite (Glen Rovers) for Ó hEathairn (half-time).

Referee: R Moloney (Limerick)

When – Friday January 9^th at 1:30pm

Where – Kilmallock

Referee – Richard Moloney (Limerick)

Extra time to be played if necessary

Admission Prices

Adults – €5
Students / OAP’s – €3

All Media and Munster Council passes accepted.

Match Preview

Thurles CBS and Gaelcolaiste Mhuire AG will get the Dr. Harty Cup knockout stages off to an exciting start on this Friday when they play the first of the Quarter-Finals for the 2014/2015 season with Kilmallock as the venue. Thurles CBS come in to the game after topping Group 1 by remaining undefeated in a group involving the defending champions Ard Scoil Ris. The only dropped points for Thurles came against a strong West Limerick Colleges side where the teams finished level after an exciting game. The best game for the Thurles school in the competition to date came with a close fought battle with Ard Scoil Ris, winning by a 9 point margin (3-12 to 0-12) after a very good team performance. The winning margin was flattering in the finish but the victory was well merited by a strong, balanced Tipperary side which played well on the day.

For Gaelcolaiste Mhuire AG, it was a case of coming through what turned out to be the Group of Death which saw four schools reach Round 5 on the same number of points. The final round victory over SNTN Doon by two points (1-15 to 1-13) was hard earned and only a one point defeat to Castletroy CC in Round 3 prevented Gaelcolaiste Mhuire AG from topping Group 2. Daniel Gunning scored the crucial goal in the Round 5 victory over Doon and finished the group stages as his side’s joint top scorer with 1-11 (0-5 free) alongside Cork Minor Dayne Lee (scorer of 2-8 over the three group games. The balance of the Gaelcolaiste Mhuire AG side is illustrated best by their average of six different scorers over their three group games.

When the schools met in this competition last season, Thurles CBS had 10 points to spare (0-21 to 0-11) but one suspects on all known form to date that Friday’s battle between two balanced and well coached teams will go down to the wire. Castletroy CC or PS Youghal await the winners in the semi-final.

Paths to the Quarter-Final

Gaelcolaiste Mhuire AG

Round 1 – Gaelcolaiste Mhuire AG 1-14 De La Salle College 1-10

Round 2 -Gaelcolaiste Mhuire AG 2-14 St Colmans Fermoy 0-7
Round 3 – Castletroy CC 2-13 Gaelcolaiste Mhuire AG 0-18

Round 4 – Bye
Round 5 – Gaelcolaiste Mhuire AG 1-15 SNTN Doon 1-13

Thurles CBS

Round 1 – Thurles CBS 5-26 St Flannans 0-6

Round 2 – Thurles CBS 1-15 West Limerick Colleges 3-9

Round 3 – Thurles CBS 3-12 Ard Scoil Ris 0-12
Round 4 – Thurles CBS 2-15 Blackwater CS 3-3

Round 5 – Bye

For the Record

Dr. Harty Cup Knockout Stages

Quarter-Finals

A          Hamilton High School Bandon V Ard Scoil Ris – Wednesday January 14^th at 1:30pm in Mallow

B          Rochestown V Nenagh CBS – Wednesday January 14^th at 1:30pm in Charleville

C         Castletroy CC V PS Youghal – Wednesday January 14^th at 1:30pm in Cahir

D         Thurles CBS V Gaelcolaiste Mhuire AG – Friday January 9^th at 1:30pm in Kilmallock

Semi-Finals

Fixed for Saturday January 31^st

A v B

C v D

Final

Fixed for Saturday February 21st

Team Panels

Thurles CBS Senior A Hurling Panel

1  William Tierney
Thurles Sarsfields

2 Dillon Quirke                                   3 Enda Heffernan                   4 Jack Derby
Clonoulty Rossmore                          Clonoulty Rossmore               Thurles Sarsfields

5 Ronan Heffernan                             6 Jack Skehan                         7 Christopher McCullagh
Clonoulty Rossmore                           Holycross Ballycahill              Moycarkey Borris

8 Billy McCarthy                                9 Cathal Moloney
Thurles Sarsfields                                Thurles Sarsfields

10 Niall Heffernan                              11 Kevin Duggan                   12 Ronan Teehan (C)
Moycarkey Borris                                     Galmoy                                   Gortnahoe Glengoole

13 Jack Butler                                     14 Brendan Kelly                    15 Robbie Long
Upperchurch Drombane                          Rathdowney Errill                Drom & Inch

Subs;16 James McCormack Borris-Ileigh, 17 Eoin Barry Killenaule, 18 Michael Connors Drom & Inch, 19 Kieran Cummins Moycarkey Borris, 20 Martán Fennelly Killenaule, 21 Tom Hayes Moycarkey Borris, 22 Paul Kennedy Drom & Inch, 23 Killian O’Dwyer Killenaule,  24 Rory Purcell Thurles Sarsfields, 25 Michael Purcell Thurles Sarsfields, 26 Matt Stakelum Holycross Ballycahill, 27 Jack Bergin JK Brackens, 28 Bill Darcy Thurles Sarsfields, 29 David Egan Clonoulty Rossmore, 30 Eric Fanning Moycarkey Borris, 31 Stevie Flanagan Holycross Ballycahill, 32 Adam Garrett Thurles Sarsfields, 33 Ronan Gleeson Upperchurch Drombane, 34 Gary Healy Thurles Sarsfields, 35 Diarmaid Leahy Moyne Templetuohy, 36 Faolan Linnane Thurles Sarsfields, 37 Niall Moloney Loughmore Castleliney, 38 Jimmy Ryan Clonoulty Rossmore, 39 Conor Stakelum Thurles Sarsfields, 40 Tom Stakelum Killenaule, 41 Jack Stapleton Killenaule, 42 Micheal Troy Emeralds 

Team Management; John Devane, Martin Maher, Niall Cahill.

Medical Team; Bill McCormack, Pearse Murphy.

Backroom Team; Liam Lanigan, Ayrton Ryan Casey, William Creedon, Patrick Bowden

Gaelcholaiste Mhuire AG Senior Hurling Panel

1.Darragh O Conaill

(Na Piarsaigh)

2.  Adam Ó Suilleabhain                     3. Eadbhard O Conaing          4 .Roibeard Ó Meara
(Fánaithe an Ghleanna)                       (Na Piarsaigh)            (Na Piarsaigh)

5. Ailein Breathnach                           6. Jamie Ó Muireasa                7. Eric Ó Caoimh
(Na Piarsaigh)                                     (Na Piarsaigh)                         (Na Piarsaigh)

8. Liam Ó Cochlan                              9. Dayne Ó Laoi
(Fánaithe an Ghleanna)                       (Na Piarsaigh)

10. Ciarán Ó hAinifín (C)                   11.Eoghan Ó Laoire                12.Killian Ó hEathairn
(Na Piarsaigh)                                     (Na Piarsaigh)                         (Na Piarsaigh)

13. Donal Ó Conaing                          14. Adam Ó Donnabhain        15.Evan Ó Siocháin
(Na Piarsaigh)                                     (Fánaithe an Ghleanna)           (Na Piarsaigh)

Subs; 16  Conchúr Ó Briain (Carrig na bhFear) 17 Conchúr Ó Buacháin (Na Piarsaigh) 18 Cathal Ó Cuileannáin (Fánaithe an Ghleanna) 19 Craig Ó hAinfín (Na Piarsaigh) 20. Brian Ó Ceallachain (Na Piarsaigh) 21. Pól de Faoite (Fánaithe an Ghleanna) 22 Cian Mac Giolla Chainnigh (Na Piarsaigh) 23 Daithí Braham (Fánaithe an Ghleanna) 24 Sean Ó Meara  (Na Piarsaigh)     25 Eoin Ó Neill (Fánaithe an Ghleanna) 26. Coilín Ó Suilleabhain (Na Piarsaigh) 27 Jamie Mc Craith(Na Piarsaigh) 28 Marcas Breathnach (Na Piarsaigh) 29 Sean Bairead (Na Piarsaigh) 30 Dean Ó Muireasa (Na Piarsaigh).

Roghnóirí; Éadbhard Ó Croinín, Liam Searton, Tadhg Ó Lordáin.

Dr. Harty Cup Tables after Group Stages

Dr. Harty Cup Roll Of Honour

St. Flannan’s, Ennis (21) – 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1952, 1954, 1957, 1958, 1976, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2005

North Monastery, Cork (19) – 1919, 1929, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1955, 1960, 1961, 1970, 1980, 1981, 1985, 1986, 1994

Limerick CBS (10) – 1920, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1932, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1993

St Colman’s College, Fermoy (9) – 1948, 1949, 1977, 1992, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2003

Thurles CBS (7) – 1933, 1938, 1939, 1950, 1951, 1956, 2009

St. Finbarr’s, Cork (7) – 1963, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1984

Rockwell College (5) – 1918, 1923, 1924, 1930, 1931

Ardscoil Rís, Limerick (3) – 2010, 2011, 2013

Midleton CBS  (3) – 1988, 1995, 2006

De La Salle College Waterford (2) – 2007, 2008

St. Munchin’s  (1) – 1922

Mount Sion (1) – 1953

Abbey CBS, Tipperary Town (1) – 1959

Rice College, Ennis (1) – 1962

Coláiste Chríost Rí (1) – 1968

Colaiste Iognaid Ris, Cork (1) – 1975

Templemore CBS (1) – 1978

Colaiste na nDeise (1) – 2012