Dr. Harty Cup – Our Lady’s Templemore 1-15 Christian Brothers College Cork 2-11

Dr. Harty Cup Under 18.5 A Hurling

Our Lady’s Templemore 1-15 Christian Brothers College Cork 2-11

Report by Ed Donnelly

Our Lady’s Templemore came from three points down in the final quarter to secure a one-point victory for the reigning Harty Cup and Croke Cup champions over CBC Cork in the first round of the Dr. Harty Cup at Clonmel Sportsfield on Wednesday afternoon.

This was a game which CBC looked in pole position to win when leading by three points heading in to the final stages & with the advantage of the strong wind. However, a powerful final quarter by Templemore ensured victory by a solitary point.

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Tommy O’Connell opening the scoring for CBC with a pointed free in the second minute before Our Lady’s Templemore with wind assistance scored four points on the trot from Shane Doyle (2), Andrew Ormond and Gearoid O’Connor.
CBC would draw level in the 6th minute when corner-forward Denis McBarron gathered possession in front of goal and after beating his marker, dispatched the ball to the net to leave the scores 0-4 to 1-1. This goal didn’t impact on the run of play greatly as Templemore continued to pick off their scores and the Tipperary school added another four unanswered points from Andrew Ormond, Gearoid O’Connor (2) and Fintan Purcell to lead by 0-8 to 1-1 after 15 minutes.

CBC however managed to keep in touch by adding their second goal, this time by Eoin McCarthy who let a long delivery by Robert Downey beat him only to connect with the ball after one hop to give Eoin Collins in the Templemore goal no chance and leave just a point between the teams, 0-8 to 2-1.

For the remainder of the first half, CBC Cork gave as good as they got and in the process managed to keep Our Lady’s Templemore scoreless for 11 minutes. By the interval, both schools had added a further three points and Templemore led by the minimum, 0-11 to 2-4.

Wind advantage is exactly that, an advantage but it still requires a team to convert their chances in to scores. CBC seemed to be doing this as they dominated the third quarter. Gearoid O’Connor pointed a free in the opening minute of the second half but the Templemore school would not score again for 16 minutes. In the meantime, CBC Cork scored five unanswered points courtesy of Eoin McCarthy, Robert Downey, Tommy O’Connell (free), Kevin Finn and Denis McBarron to lead by 2-9 to 0-12 heading in to the final quarter.

The turning point of this game arrived on 47 minutes when Our Lady’s Templemore managed to draw level following a solo run and unstoppable shot to the top of the net by James Devaney. This score seemed to give heart to a Templemore side struggling for confidence and as a result, the closing stages were nip and tuck as both schools sought victory.

Declan Hanlon scored a point from play to put CBC back in front followed by three points in quick succession. Firstly, Gearoid O’Connor levelled the scores with a pointed free for Templemore. From the puckout, CBC went back in front again as Kevin Finn pointed. Not to be outdone, Templemore’s Andrew Ormond gathered possession from the next play and added a point. The sides were level again with eight minutes remaining.

Despite numerous chances for both schools (CBC recorded 12 wides over the hour while Our Lady’s had 10), there would be just one further score – a point from play by Templemore’s Gearoid O’Connor in the 56th minute. CBC had their opportunities to get the equalising score while James Devaney had a goal chance well saved in the final minute but when the full-time whistle sounded, Templemore were one point to the good to record an important victory. Our Lady’s Templemore will now play Castletroy College in round two while CBC Cork take on St. Flannan’s Ennis.

Our Lady’s Templemore: Eoin Collins: Sean Ryan, Michael Egan O’Brien, Lorcan Campion; Thomas O’Farrell, Eanna McBride, Fintan Purcell (0-1); Jack Ryan, Kevin Maher; Michael O’Connell, Gearoid O’Connor (0-9, 0-5 frees), John Ryan; Andrew Ormond (0-3), Shane Doyle (0-2), James Devaney (1-0)
Subs: Shane Lowe for O’Brien (44m)

Christian Brothers College Cork: Daithi Heffernan; David Barry, Peadar Hennessy, Anthony Cronin; Cillian O’Donovan, Brian Hartnett, Darragh O’Mahony; Declan Hanlon (0-1), Kevin Finn (0-2); Shane Barrett (0-1), Robert Downey (0-1), Cormac Murphy (0-1); Eoin McCarthy (1-1), Tommy O’Connell (0-3 frees), Denis McBarron (1-1)
Subs: David Murphy for Cormac Murphy (HT), Iarlath Daly for Barry (HT), Padraig Power for Barrett (44m)

Referee: Noel Cosgrove