Dr. Harty Cup Senior A Hurling Quarter-Final – Thurles CBS 2-23 Castletroy College Limerick 2-12

Thurles dance to the tune of Lanigan’s ball-striking to make last four

Thurles CBS 2-23 Castletroy CC 2-12

By Jackie Cahill for the Irish Independent newspaper

Dr Harty Cup (Munster cols SH)

Thurles CBS crushed Castletroy in the remaining quarter-final at Sean Treacy Park in Tipperary Town to set up a mouth-watering last-four clash with holders Dungarvan Colleges. The 2009 champions produced a fine wind-assisted second half display to see off their Limerick opponents’ spirited challenge. Conor Lanigan scored 0-9, including four from play, and fellow 2012 All-Ireland minor medallist Stephen Cahill was the driving force at midfield as nine Thurles players got on the scoresheet. Eoin Moriarty’s first-half switch from full-forward to midfield also paid rich dividends as the Emeralds (Kilkenny) player hoovered a huge amount of ball around the middle third. And when Moriarty returned to full-forward for the second half, he crowned a hard-working display with a haul of 1-1. A run of five unanswered points before half-time proved crucial for Thurles, who could easily have trailed at the break instead of holding a 0-11 to 0-10 lead.

Castletroy, with the breeze at their backs, played with huge intensity in the first half and were 0-9 to 0-6 in front when they were awarded a 26th-minute penalty. Towering full-back Michael Breen’s effort was well-struck, but Thurles corner-back Robert Larkin’s save was one that any top goalkeeper would be proud of as he somehow diverted the sliotar behind for a ’65’. Castletroy’s leading scorer Stephen Power converted, but Thurles turned up the heat to establish that one-point lead at the interval. Thurles kicked on after the break, but the first of Tom Morrissey’s two goals hauled Castletroy back to within a point in the 36th minute.

But Thurles responded emphatically five minutes later as Lanigan’s brave block on Castletroy defender Paddy Morrissey led to a goal for Kevin Dunne. Thurles added seven of the next nine points to put the result beyond doubt. Morrissey cracked home a brilliant goal in the 59th minute, but Thurles hit back with a goal from Moriarty.

Scorers – Thurles CBS: C Lanigan 0-9 (5f), K Dunne 1-2, S Cahill 0-4, E Moriarty 1-1, S Ryan, S Nally 0-2 each, R Maher (f), P Russell, C Maher 0-1 each. Castletroy CC: S Power 0-9 (6f, 1 ’65’), T Morrissey 2-2, B Nash 0-1.

THURLES CBS – P Maher; R O’Regan, K O’Dwyer, R Larkin; J Lineen, R Maher, B Troy; S Cahill, P Russell; S Ryan, S Nally, K Dunne; C Lanigan, E Moriarty, C Maher. Subs: J Skehan for Russell (47), J Woods for C Maher (52), S Ryan for Dunne (57), R Nally for Cahill (59), C McCullagh for S Nally (60).

CASTLETROY CC – C O’Dwyer; J Porter, M Breen, P Morrissey; L Lyons, A La Touche Cosgrave, P O’Kane; A Hanley, B Nash; E Doyle, T Morrissey, S Power; J Nicholas, S Griffen, J Fox. Subs: D Kennedy for Lyons (h-t), J Stack for O’Kane (47), R Murphy for Nicholas (52).

Ref – D Copps (Cork)

Harty Cup woe for Limerick school

Report from the Limerick Leader newspaper

Thurles CBS 2-23 Castletroy College 2-12

THE Harty Cup dream for Castletroy College ended this Thursday in Tipperary Town when they were beaten 2-23 to 2-12 by Thurles CBS. Just like their maiden voyage last season, they were knocked out at the quarter-final stage of the Munster senior A colleges hurling championship. Last year it was Limerick city rivals Ardscoil Ris that proved too strong and on this occasion it was Thurles CBS. In the end it was an 11-point victory that saw the Tipperary side advance to the semi-final against Dungarvan Colleges. But for long periods of the first half, Castletroy were the better side.

However, all changed in the final 10 minutes of the first half. Castletroy were 0-9 to 0-6 ahead when they were awarded a penalty for a foul on Simon Griffin. Tipperary’s All-Ireland minor winner Michael Breen was summoned from defence but his powerful drive was expertly saved by Robert Larkin. Castletroy could very well have been six points clear but the deflation of missing that opportunity appear to see them lose their concentration and Thurles hit five successive points in as many minutes to snatch a half time lead.

Backed by the wind, Castletroy settled brilliantly. Tom Morrissey opened their account and free-taker Stephen Power kept tagging on the scores. At the end of the first 10-minutes they were 0-5 to 0-2 ahead. More frees from Power had them 0-8 to 0-3 clear with 16 minutes played. But then came the saved penalty in the 25th minute and the late salvo from Thurles. At half time the lead for the Tipperary side was just 0-11 to 0-10 but momentum and wind was in their favour in the second half.

Castletroy needed to regain an immediate foothold but it was not to be. Indeed they were to score just three times in the second half as Thurles dominated most sectors. They were 0-14 to 0-10 after five minutes of play. There was a glimmer of hope when Castletroy goaled but the fightback wasn’t sustained. The goal came from Tom Morrissey, who finished to the net in a crowded goalmouth after John Nicholas soloed into the danger area.

But the Thurles response was impressive and when they got a goal of their own it was 1-17 to 1-10 entering the final quarter. Michael Breen, Andrew La Touche Cosgrave, Edward Doyle, Barry Nash, Stephen Power and Tom Morrissey continued to take the game to Thurles but they were just too strong. Two minutes from time, Tom Morrissey scored a superb second goal but even then, Thurles went up the field and replied with a second goal of their own. It was a brave showing from Castletroy but Ardscoil Ris are once again left to fly the Limerick flag in the semi-finals of the Harty Cup, where they will meet Templemore on the first weekend of February. The other semi-final is between Thurles CBS and Dungarvan schools.

SCORERS – Castletroy College: Stephen Power 0-9 (six frees, one ‘65), Tom Morrissey 2-2, Barry Nash 0-1. Thurles CBS: Conor Lanigan 0-9 (five frees), Kevin Dunne 1-2, Eoin Moriarty 1-1, Stephen Cahill 0-4, Sean Nally, Sean Ryan 0-2 each, Caley Maher, Padraic Russell, Ronan Maher (free) 0-1 each.

CASTLETROY COLLEGE – Cian O’Dwyer (Monaleen); Jamie Porter (Monaleen), Michael Breen (Ballina), Paddy Morrissey (Ahane); Lorcan Lyons (Monaleen), Andrew La Touche Cosgrave (Monaleen), Pat O’Kane (Monaleen); Aidan Hanley (Ballina), Barry Nash (South Liberties); Edward Doyle (Monaleen), Tom Morrissey (Ahane), Stephen Power (Ahane); John Nicholas (Monaleen), Simon Griffin (Monaleen), John Fox (Ahane). Subs: Dara Kennedy (Murroe-Boher) for Lyons (h-t), John Stack (Ballybricken) for O’Kane (45mins), Ronan Murphy (Monaleen) for Nicholas (51mins),

THURLES CBS – Paul Maher; Rory O’Regan, Kieran O’Dwyer, Robert Larkin; Jack Lineen, Ronan Maher, Brian Troy; Stephen Cahill, Padraic Russell; Sean Ryan, Sean Nally, Kevin Dunne; Conor Lanigan, Eoin Moriarty, Caley Maher. Subs: Jack Skehan for Russell (45mins), Jamie Woods for Caley Maher (51mins), Shane Ryan for Dunne (56mins), Ray Nally for Cahill (58mins), Chris McCullagh for Sean Nally (59mins).

REFEREE – David Copps (Cork)

Match Preview

Thurles CBS are considered by many to be serious contenders for this year’s silverware. They came through a tough group with minimal fuss and have impressed many with their performances to date. On the other hand Castletroy have had an eventful campaign to date and indeed qualification looked beyond them at one stage, but a tremendous victory over DLS Waterford saw them progress to the knockout stage.

Thurles CBS results to date

Thurles CBS 1-16 Nenagh CBS 1-9

Thurles CBS 0-13 Midleton CBS 2-3

Thurles CBS 1-11 Col. Chríost Rí Cork 0-13

Thurles CBS 3-26 Bandon H.S. 0-11

Castletroy results to date

Ardscoil Rís 2-14 Castletroy Coll. 0-8

Castletroy C.C. 0-9 Clonmel CBS 0-9

Castletroy College 2-11 St. Colman’s Fermoy 2-7

Castletroy College 2-9 DLS Waterford 1-9

Castletroy w/o Kerry Colleges scr

Thurles CBS Panel

Paul Maher (Moyne-Templetuohy)

Brian Troy (Emeralds)

Kieran O Dwyer (Holycross-Ballycahill)

Robert Larkin  (Moyne-Templetuohy)

Jack Lineen (Thurles Sarsfields)

Ronan Maher (Thurles Sarsfields)

Rory O Regan (Moycarkey-Borris)

Stephen Cahill (Thurles Sarsfields – Captain)

Shane Ryan (Holycross-Ballycahill)

Sean Ryan (Sean Treacy’s)

Sean Nally (Holycross-Ballycahill)

Kevin Dunne (Thurles Sarsfields)

Conor Lanigan (Thurles Sarsfields)

Eoin Moriarty (Emeralds)

Jamie Woods  (Holycross-Ballycahill)

Gavin Ryan (Upperchurch-Drombane)

Padraic Russell (Holycross-Ballycahill)

Jack Skehan (Holycross-Ballycahill)

Chris McCullagh (Moycarkey-Borris)

Caley Maher (Thurles Sarsfields)

Seamus Healy (Moycarkey-Borris)

Aidan Ryan (Thurles Sarsfields)

Graham Maher (Thurles Sarsfields)

Lorcan Egan (Loughmore-Castleiney)

Ray Nally (Holycross-Ballycahill)

Damien Larkin (Drom-Inch)

Brendan Larkin (Drom-Inch)

Ronan Heffernan (Clonoulty-Rossmore)

Paul Sammon (Thurles Sarsfields)

Tom Skehan (Thurles Sarsfields)

Niall Heffernan (Moycarkey-Borris)

Michael Connors (Drom-Inch)

Eric Fanning (Moycarkey-Borris)

Ruairi Dwan (Thurles Sarsfields)

Stephen Ryan (Moycarkey-Borris)

Martin Meagher (Loughmore-Castleiney)

Shane Fitzgerald (Emeralds)

Cathal Ryan (Drom & Inch)

Mark Dunne (Moyne-Templetuohy)

Aidan Maher (Moycarkey-Borris)

Ciaran Maher (Moycarkey-Borris)

Liam Moloney (Holycross-Ballycahill)

Matthew Ryan (Moycarkey-Borris)

Mark Conway (Thurles Sarsfields)

David Ryan (Moycarkey-Borris)

Matthew Stakelum (Holycross-Ballycahill)

Ronan Teehan (Gortnahooe-Glengoole)

Castletroy College Panel

Jack Banks Old Christians

Michael Breen Ballina

Ronan Butler South Liberties

Edward Doyle Monaleen

Evan Enright Ahane

John Fox Ahane

Simon Griffin Monaleen

Aidan Hanley Ballina (Captain)

Mark Kennedy Ahane

Dara Kennedy Murroe-Boher

Cian O’Dwyer Monaleen

Pat O’Kane Monaleen

Andrew La Touche Cosgrave Monaleen

Lorcan Lyons Monaleen

Paddy Morrissey Ahane

Tom Morrissey Ahane

Ronan Murphy Monaleen

Barry Nash South Liberties

John Nicholas Monaleen

Cian O’Brien Monaleen

Ciaran O’Mara Ahane

Jamie Porter Monaleen

Daniel Power Monaleen

Sean Power Monaleen

Stephen Power Ahane

John Stack Ballybricken

Management Team: Declan Fitzgerald, Trevor Griffin, Paddy Stapleton and Paudie Fitzmaurice