Dr. Harty Cup Quarter-Final – St. Francis College Rochestown 3-9 Nenagh CBS 2-8

St. Francis College Rochestown defeated Nenagh CBS by 3-9 to 2-9 in the Munster GAA Post Primary Schools Dr. Harty Cup Under 18.5 A Hurling Quarter-Final on Thursday January 15th at Charleville.

Click to view photos from the game

St Francis College Rochestown beat Nenagh CBS in Harty Cup action

By Eoghan Cormican for the Irish Examiner newspaper

St Francis College Rochestown 3-9 Nenagh CBS 2-8

Tour-de-force performances from Ciarán Cormack and Shane Kingston returned St Francis College, Rochestown to the semi-final juncture of the Harty Cup for a second successive year.

A swirling gale, sporadic rain showers and soft underfoot conditions at Charleville made for a testing afternoon for the students of Nenagh and Rochestown, and it was the Cork school who adapted with far greater ease over the hour. Eleven first-half wides paints the picture of Nenagh’s shooting troubles and Rochestown’s greater economy to this regard, thanks to snipers Cormack and Kingston, ultimately told.

The pair contributed 1-7 of their team’s 3-9, and, indeed, it was Cormack’s goal strike on 41 minutes that would prove most crucial in the outcome, establishing as it did a five-point cushion for the winners. Supported by the elements in the second period, the Cork school were never in danger of being reeled in thereafter. Nenagh’s Ciarán Kelly blasted an injury-time free to the net, but it was a case of too little, too late.

Rochestown selector Humphrey Canty said victory had realised their minimum goal for 2015 — to return to the penultimate round. “It is great to get back to the semi-final. I really hope we can at least go one step further than last year,” he said. “Goals were always going to have a big bearing on the game, given the weather conditions. Our third goal arrived at a crucial stage and knocked Nenagh back.

“The wind factor was also huge and the fact that we were ahead at half-time gave us great encouragement. Nenagh hit a lot of wides in the first half when they had the elements. It was important we weren’t wasteful after the break and fair play to the lads, they were very efficient.”

Goals hadn’t been an issue for the Cork school during the group stages and this contest was but 20 seconds old when Liam O’Sullivan, set up by Cormack, pulled to the net. Nenagh absorbed the early setback and responded with a major of their own on six minutes, Anthony Walsh finishing, at the second attempt, a sweeping move involving Ruadhran Mulrooney and Conor Gill.

A Walsh free subsequently stretched their advantage, but then arrived Rochestown’s most productive spell of the tie — 1-3 pilfered without reply in an impressive nine-minute burst. Cormack (free), a beauty on the run from Kingston and a John Cashman effort completed the overtaking movement, accentuated by a Paddy Lynch goal, the right boot employed to devastating effect. Both Rochestown goals, it must be noted, were of an avoidable nature, stemming from poor defending on the part of the Nenagh full-back line.

Walsh and Andy Loughnane rallied for the Tipperary school, but their spells of dominance had been rendered useless by a wides tally that had climbed into double figures by the break. Cormack’s second-half goal, the Blackrock forward storming past five blue shirts to create the opening, moved the winners 3-4 to 1-5 clear. A string of points in the final quarter from Kingston (0-2), Sean Power and Cormack (0-2, 0-1 free) closed out the matter. “The majority of these lads will be out training on Friday night for next week’s Corn Úí Mhuirí quarter-final, so from several perspectives was it crucial this game was played today and that we got the win,” said Canty.

Scorers for St Francis College, Rochestown: C Cormack (1-4, 0-3 frees); P Lynch, L O’Sullivan (1-0 each); S Kingston (0-3); J Cashman, S Power (0-1 each).

Scorers for Nenagh CBS: A Walsh (1-3, 0-3 frees); C Kelly (1-2, 1-2 frees); A Loughnane (0-2); J Clearly (0-1).

ST FRANCIS COLLEGE, ROCHESTOWN: A Cullinane (Douglas); D Murphy (Douglas), D Griffin (Carrigaline), N Walsh (Douglas); D Kelliher (Cobh), J Cashman (Blackrock), C Sheehan (Douglas); E O’Brien (Douglas), J O’Sullivan (Blacrock); S Kingston (Douglas), D O’Mahony (Douglas), P Lynch (Blackrock); S Power (Douglas), L O’Sullivan (Blackrock), C Cormack (Blackrock)
Subs: D Meaney (Blackrock) for O’Mahony (HT), L Dineen (Douglas) for J O’Sullivan (44 mins), M McAulliffe (Douglas) for L O’Sullivan (50), D Stack (Carrigaline) for Lynch (56).

NENAGH CBS: M Daniels (Silvermines); B Flynn (Nenagh Éire Óg), G O’Connor (Nenagh Éire Óg), J Quigley (Kildangan); E Corcoran (Silvermines), D Peters (Kilruane MacDonaghs), C Kelly (Kildangan); J Cleary (Kilruane MacDonaghs), A Loughnane (Kildangan); J Cahalan (Nenagh Éire Óg), R Mulrooney (Portroe), C Gill (Burgess); A Hayden (Silvermines), R Byrne (Burgess), A Walsh (Nenagh Éire Óg).
Subs: J Morris (Nenagh Éire Óg) for Quigley (25 mins), J Quigley for Peters (HT), A Dunne (Burgess) for Byrne (44), K Nealon (Burgess) for Hayden (58), J Kennedy (Templederry) for Quigley (60).

Referee: D Fox (Clare)

Rochestown reach back-to-back Harty Cup semi-finals

Rochestown College 3-9 Nenagh CBS 2-8

Report from thescore.ie

ROCHESTOWN COLLEGE MADE it back-to-back Dr. Harty Cup semi-final appearances with a four-point victory over Nenagh CBS in Charleville this afternoon Following narrow defeat in the final four last year, the Cork school started the game the quicker of the two sides with Liam O’Sullivan raising the green flag in the very first minute. Nenagh recovered quickly though and were ahead inside five minutes, Anthony Walsh finding the back of the net for the Tipperary school. However, another maximum from Paddy Lynch sent Rochestown into the break with a 2-3 to 1-4 lead.

A goal from wing-forward Ciaran Cormack after 38 minutes stretched Rochestown’s lead to five points and, despite a late goal from Nenagh, they were unable to close the gap so it is the Cork side that advances to the semi-finals on a 3-9 to 2-8 scoreline.

When – Thursday January 15th at 1pm

Where – Charleville

Referee – Damien Fox (Clare)

Extra time to be played if necessary

Admission Prices

Adults – €5
Students / OAP’s – €3

All Media and Munster Council passes accepted.

Match Preview

St. Francis College Rochestown come in to the New Year as the only school to qualify for the knockout stages of both Munster GAA Post Primary Schools Senior A Hurling & Football competitions. A Corn Uí Mhuirí quarter-final date with Colaise na Sceilige awaits on January 21^st but before all of that, it’s an intriguing Harty Cup Q-Final with Nenagh CBS. Rochestown have come through the group stages with four victories, a feat only achieved by Hamilton High School Bandon and they will approach this Quarter-Final with confidence. Following a narrow defeat in last year’s semi-final, Rochestown will want to get back to the penultimate stages of the Harty Cup at a minimum and a victory over Nenagh CBS will ensure that objective is met.

Nenagh CBS on the other hand will come in to the game with a lot of confidence after winning three games in a row to qualify as Group 4 runners-up. A first round defeat to Hamilton High School Bandon after a high scoring game (4-10 to 2-13) did not augur well but four point wins over both Dungarvan CBS and HS Clonmel set up a winner takes all clash with Midleton CBS in the last round. And that winner was Nenagh, scoring 3 goals en route to a deserved 3-11 to 1-13 victory to end Midleton’s interest in the competition. Nenagh won the Croke Cup all of three years ago and can call on the experience of Darragh Peters from the 2012 panel to look to cause an upset in this game and secure a victory. An exciting game is in store if both teams hit form.

Paths to the Quarter-Final 

St. Francis College Rochestown

Round 1 – St Francis College Rochestown 2-14 Charleville CBS 0-13

Round 2 – Bye
Round 3 – St Francis College Rochestown 1-18 PS Youghal 1-8
Round 4 – St Francis College Rochestown 0-16 St Caimins Shannon 0-13
Round 5 – St Francis College Rochestown 2-13 Our Ladys Templemore 0-16

Nenagh CBS

Round 1 – Hamilton High School Bandon 4-10 Nenagh CBS 2-13
Round 2 – Nenagh CBS 1-13 Dungarvan CBS 1-12

Round 3 – Bye
Round 4 – Nenagh CBS 1-17 HS Clonmel 0-16
Round 5 – Nenagh CBS 3-11 Midleton CBS 1-13

For the Record

Dr. Harty Cup Knockout Stages

Quarter-Finals

A Hamilton High School Bandon V Ard Scoil Ris – Monday January 19th at 1:30pm in Mallow
B Rochestown V Nenagh CBS – Thursday January 15th at 1pm in Charleville
C Castletroy CC V PS Youghal – Wednesday January 21st at 1:30pm in Cahir
D Thurles CBS V Gaelcolaiste Mhuire AG – Friday January 9th at 1:30pm in Kilmallock

Semi-Finals

Fixed for Saturday January 31^st

A v B

C v Thurles CBS

Final

Fixed for Saturday February 21st

Team Panels

St. Francis College Rochestown

Nenagh CBS 

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