Dr. Harty Cup Hurling – Thurles CBS 3-17 De La Salle 1-8

Anthony McKelvey steers Thurles CBS to Harty win

Thurles CBS 3-17 De La Salle 1-8

Report by Ed Donnelly (info.munster@gaa.ie)

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A dominant second half performance helped Thurles CBS to recover from a five point deficit to record a comprehensive 15 point victory over De La Salle Waterford at a sunny Clonmel Sportsfield on Wednesday.

De La Salle played with wind assistance in the first half and took the lead after just a minute with a pointed free by Harry Redmond. The Waterford school were the better side early on and further points from Redmond (free) and Cian Wadding stretched the DLS lead to 0-3 to 0-0 after 6 minutes. Both sides were an employing a sweeper at this stage which was limiting the attacking prowess of the forwards on show.

Eventually, Thurles CBS began to get back in to the game and by the end of the first quarter trailed by 0-5 to 0-3 with Thurles points coming from Anthony McKelvey, Bryan O’Mara and Cathal Bourke. Thurles were also somewhat wayward in attack, shooting from distance to try and bypass the sweeper but alas, doing so with inaccuracy as they racked up 8 first half wides to just 2 for De La Salle.

Just two points separated the teams entering first half injury time before the first goal arrived in the 31st minute. Sean Power was fouled at the expense of a penalty which was expertly scored by De La Salle captain and full-forward Thomas Doughlas to give the Waterford school a 5 point lead.

From the resultant puck out, Conor Bowe gathered possession for Thurles CBS and his speculative shot for a point dropped short and ended up in the De La Salle net to leave just two points in it at the interval, 1-6 to 1-4.
As the second half began, Thurles looked to take full advantage of the wind assistance and one of the key switches saw Thurles wing-forward Anthony McKelvey moving in to full-forward. Thurles scored three of the first four points of the second half via Darragh Woods (2 frees) and Anthony McKelvey to bring the sides level at 1-7 to 1-7 after 36 minutes.

The Mid Tipperary school were now dominating the play and a long clearance found Anthony McKelvey in a 1:1 battle with his marker in front of goal. McKelvey gathered possession and despite being pushed out wide of goal by the De La Salle defence, the Thurles forward made no mistake to score a goal and put his team in front by 2-8 to 1-7. De La Salle had a goal chance soon afterwards but Thurles corner-back Dean Carew made a brave intervention underneath his own crossbar to thwart the on-rushing De La Salle forwards when a goal looked a certainty.

That was De La Salle’s last decent chance to stay in the game as Thurles scored their third goal in the 46th minute. Once again it was McKelvey, acting as an effective target man up front, gathered possession and handpassed to Darragh Woods who saw his first time shot hit the net to put Thurles in front by 3-10 to 1-8.

There was no way back now for De La Salle who failed to score for the final 24 minutes of the game. Both schools were now making numerous substitutions as the game was over a contest. McKelvey and Woods added further points, as did substitute Odhran Quirke with Thurles adding the final seven points of the game to run out comprehensive 15 point winners.

Best for Thurles CBS were Killian O’Dwyer, Michael Purcell, Bryan O’Mara, Anthony McKelvey and Darragh Woods. For De La Salle, Conor Giles Doran (before going off injured), Harry Redmond, Cian Wadding and Thomas Doughlas did well

Thurles CBS: Ewan Bourke; Dean Carew, Eddie O’Gorman, Killian O’Dwyer (Captain); James Ryan, Michael Purcell, Seosamh Ryan (0-1); Bryan O’Mara (0-1), Michael Nally; Anthony McKelvey (1-5), Darragh Woods (1-5, 0-5 frees), Conor Bowe (1-2); Eoin Barry, TJ Butler, Cathal Bourke (0-2)
Subs: Jack Fallon for Eoin Barry (34m), Odhran Quirke (0-1) for TJ Butler (46m), Jimmy Ryan for James Ryan (52m), Aaron Ryan for Nally (54m), Jason Jordan for O’Dwyer (58m)

De La Salle Waterford: Luke Power; Peter Boylan, Darragh Hogan, Ryan Duke; Harry Redmond (0-4 frees), Conor Giles Doran, Tadhg Foley; Shane Kennedy, Darragh Walsh; Kevin Hennessy, Sam Flynn, Cian Wadding (0-2); Sean Power, Thomas Doughlas (1-1, 1-0 penalty, 0-1 free), Ryan Croke
Subs: Luke Walsh for Giles Doran (30m), Dylan Finn for Croke (34m), Luke Flynn for Sam Flynn (40m), Sean Carton for Hogan (47m), Mike Hutchinson for Power (51m)

In the other Harty Cup game played on Wednesday, CBC Cork defeated Colaiste Iosaef Kilmallock by 4-17 to 1-13.

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