2024/2025 TUS Dean Ryan Cup Under 17 A Hurling Quarter-Final – Nenagh CBS 3-15 Ardscoil Ris Limerick 0-21

TUS Dean Ryan Cup Under 17 A Hurling Quarter-Final

Report by Ed Donnelly

Nenagh CBS 3-15 Ardscoil Ris Limerick 0-21

The Dean Ryan Cup champions of the past two years met at a windy Newport on Wednesday afternoon for a place in this year’s Semi-Final.

Ardscoil Ris won the toss and elected to play against the strong wind blowing towards the dressing room end of the pitch. This looked like being an inspired decision as Ardscoil scored the opening three points of the game, all from play courtesy of Cathal O’Doherty, Alex Kearns and John Ross O’Reilly.

Nenagh got off the mark with a pointed free in the sixth minute by Eoin Grace and further points by Paddy Hackett (2 frees) and Aodhan Tucker ensured the scores were level at 0-4 to 0-4 after 12 minutes. The turning point for the defending champions came midway through the first half as Nenagh raised 3 green flags in the space of ten minutes.

Charlie Kennedy scored Nenagh’s first goal in the 13th minute with a low shot to the net. A long range free by Nenagh goalkeeper Paddy McCormack in the 20th minute deceived everyone when it bounced in the square and found the roof of the net. And finally, in the 22nd minute, it was Charlie Kennedy again who scored a goal and from a situation of being 3 points down early on, Nenagh led by 10 points, 3-7 to 0-6 after 22 minutes.

The remainder of the opening half was an even affair and by half-time, Nenagh’s lead was 3-9 to 0-9.

With the strong wind now assisting the Limerick side, a good start to the second half was essential to start eating in to the nine point deficit. Instead, it was Nenagh CBS who scored the first two points of the second half, pointed frees by Eoin Grace to stretch the lead out to 11 points.

Ardscoil Ris would not get their first score of the second half until the 37th minute, courtesy of Alex Kearns from a free. And while the Ardscoil freetaker would end the day with 13 points, 12 from frees, it was the lack of a scoring threat from open play which impacted most on the Limerick school.

While Kearns would add another 6 pointed frees for Ardscoil Ris, it was the 50th minute before they got their first score from play in the second half, a point by David O’Keeffe. The deficit still remained at 5 points at that stage, 3-13 to 0-17 and it seemed like a goal would be required to reduce the gap.

However, as the scores dried up for Nenagh, Ardscoil Ris continued to chip away at the lead and further points by David O’Keeffe, David Moran and Kearns (2) left Nenagh in front by just two points as injury time approached.

Crucially for Nenagh, they earned a free in the 60th minute which was converted by Eoin Grace to extend their lead to 3 points. Ardscoil still had a couple of opportunities as they dropped the ball in to the goalmouth from late frees, but the Nenagh defense held firm to hold out for a three point victory.

Cork opposition awaits Nenagh CBS in the semi-final as the defending champions await the winners of Friday’s Quarter-Final between Midleton CBS and CBC Cork.

Nenagh CBS: Paddy McCormack (Moneygall, 1-0 free); Rory Hackett (Kiladangan), Dan McKelvey (Silvermines), James Heffernan (Nenagh Eire Óg); Jack Bourke (Silvermines), Johnny Grace (Burgess), Cormac Kennedy (Kilruane MacDonaghs); Aodhan Tucker (Nenagh Eire Óg, 0-1), Mikey McLoone (Nenagh Eire Óg, 0-1); Eanna Tucker (Nenagh Eire Óg, 0-1), Paul Cahalan (Burgess), Paddy Hackett (Toomevara, 0-3 frees); Charlie Kennedy (Kilruane MacDonaghs, 2-0), Eoin Grace (Silvermines, 0-8, 0-7 frees), Riain McGrath (Kiladangan, 0-1)

Ardscoil Ris: Marcus Murphy (Na Piarsaigh); Rowan Collins (Adare), Eoin Hennessy (Patrickswell), Evan Ryan (South Liberties); Tom Slattery (Clarecastle), Sean Fitzgerald (Murroe Boher), Billy Gavin (Ballybrown); Shane Waters (Na Piarsaigh), Jack O’Halloran (Sixmilebridge); Alex Kearns (Na Piarsaigh, 0-13, 0-12 frees), Cathal O’Doherty (Cratloe, 0-1), David O’Keeffe (Na Piarsaigh, 0-3); Rian Horgan (Murroe Boher), Ian O’Brien (Cratloe, 0-1), John Ross O’Reilly (Ballybrown, 0-2)
Subs: William Ryan (Murroe Boher) for Collins (25); Gavin O’Brien (Kilmallock) for Gavin (27); Conor Birmingham (Na Piarsaigh) for O’Reilly (38); David Moran (Ahane, 0-1) for Waters (42).

Referee: Tom McGlinchey