Dr Harty Cup Last Sixteen
Thurles CBS 0-14 Abbey CBS 0-9
Report by Brian McDonnell for the Tipperary Star newspaper
Wednesday at Dundrum was not an afternoon for aesthetics as Thurles CBS ground out a five-point win over John Kielys Abbey CBS side in greasy conditions to book their place in the last eight of the Dr Harty Cup.
You had to admire the bravery of an Abbey CBS team which led this bruising battle by a point (0-5 to 0-4) with 27 minutes played, but Thurles CBS upped their level of performance considerably thereafter, out-scored their opponents seven-one either side of the interval and led by a significant five (0-11 to 0-6) by the 37th minute. Abbey CBS tried valiantly to engineer a route back into this contest, but the Thurles lads had now established a significant buffer between the sides and were good value for a place in the last eight.
Thurles CBS Killian ODwyer did a superb marking job on Abbey CBS danger man Shane Neville while James Ryan, Michael Purcell, Bryan OMara, Darragh Woods, Conor Bowe and Anthony McKelvey also caught the eye. For Abbey CBS Michael McCormack, Kieran Breen and Riain Doody were significant figures.
FIRST HALF
Riain Doody and Darragh Woods traded early placed balls before Nathan Murphy-Crowe cracked over a superb left-handed point following neat work by Kieran Breen to present Abbey CBS with the lead in the fifth minute. Darragh Woods responded with a brace (one free) for Thurles before Riain Doody brought seven scoreless minutes to a close when drilling over another placed ball in the 17th (0-3 apiece).
Some miscommunication in the Abbey CBS goalmouth in the 19th minute almost permitted Darragh Woods lobbing sideline ball to find the net before Woods and Doody traded frees, once more. The searing effort of the Abbey CBS lads earned a significant dividend in the 27th minute when a bustling run from Kieran Breen created an opportunity for Adam McGrath to fire his side into a narrow lead.
Thurles CBS, however, upped their performance a gear or three during the closing minutes of the half and led by two at the break (0-7 to 0-5) thanks to three efforts from Darragh Woods (two frees). Woods point from play was a beauty while a magnificent catch in traffic from Thurles wing-back James Ryan adorned the opening period.
SECOND HALF
Early in the second half the Thurles CBS wide tally had climbed to ten before James Ryan picked out Anthony McKelvey with a neat delivery and the Moycarkey-Borris man fired his side into a three-point advantage. Riain Doody (free) responded for Abbey CBS, but a right-handed point from TJ Butler and a Woods free preceded a Woods cracker from play in the 37th minute (0-11 to 0-6).
Thurles CBS conceded 17 frees during this encounter and such indiscipline presented Riain Doody with an opportunity to drag his side back into contention. Indeed, two converted frees left a break of a ball between the sides (0-11 to 0-8) entering the final quarter.
Bryan OMara intercepted an Abbey CBS hand pass with 11 to play and cracked over a smashing long-range point and although Riain Doody responded with another placed ball to leave three in it, Thurles CBS saw out this contest in composed fashion. Indeed, a Darren Flood effort from play and a Darragh Woods free (converted from ten yards inside his own 65-yard line) settled it convincingly.
QUARTER-FINAL DRAW
On November 30th Nenagh CBS progressed to the last eight of the Dr Harty Cup, but only after a tense contest with Castletroy College (1-20 to 1-13). Meanwhile Our Ladys Templemore signalled their intent and ability when beating rdscoil U穩 Urmaltaigh, Bandon by a whopping 42 points (6-27 to 0-3).
In the last sixteen defending champions rdscoil R穩s, Limerick saw off the challenge of Scoil na mBr獺ithre Rathluirc (4-16 to 1-7) and they will be joined in the last eight by De La Salle College, Waterford who beat Blackwater Community School, Lismore (1-18 to 0-16). Christian Brothers College, Cork beat St Francis College, Rochestown (3-18 to 3-12) and CBS Midleton got the better of Scoil Na Trion籀ide Doon (1-15 to 1-12) while St. Colman’s Fermoy required extra-time to beat St Flannan’s Ennis (4-22 to 2-19).
Therefore Thurles CBS join Nenagh CBS, Our Lady’s Templemore, rdscoil R穩s, Christian Brothers College, De La Salle, St Colman’s and CBS Midleton in the last eight.
The quarter-final draw is scheduled to take place on Thursday, December 15th – this will be an open draw with repeat pairings avoided where possible. The quarter-finals are scheduled to take place on January 11th, semi-finals January 28th and the Dr Harty Cup final is pencilled in for Saturday, February 18th.
Our Ladys Templemore featured in the 2016 final, but lost out to Limericks rdscoil R穩s – Our Ladys won the coveted 91勛圖厙 colleges title once previously (1978). Meanwhile Thurles CBS are seeking their ninth provincial under-18.5A colleges title this term, a title the famed secondary school last won in 2015. Nenagh CBS have never won the Dr Harty Cup while Abbey CBS, Tipperary won the title on one previous occasion (1959).
MATCH DETAILS
Thurles CBS: Ewan Bourke (Holycross-Ballycahill), Dean Carew (Upperchurch-Drombane), Eddie OGorman (Holycross-Ballycahill), Killian ODwyer (Killenaule), Seosamh Ryan (Thurles Sarsfields), Michael Purcell (Thurles Sarsfields), James Ryan (Clonoulty-Rossmore), Jason Jordan (Upperchurch-Drombane), Bryan OMara (Holycross-Ballycahill, 0-1), Conor Bowe (Moyne-Templetuohy), Darragh Woods (Holycross-Ballycahill, 0-10, 0-7 frees), Anthony McKelvey (Moycarkey-Borris, 0-1), TJ Butler (Upperchurch-Drombane, 0-1), Eoin Barry (Killenaule), Cathal Bourke (Clonoulty-Rossmore)
Subs: (46th) Michael Nally (Holycross-Ballycahill) for Jason Jordan, (48th) Darren Flood (Moycarkey-Borris, 0-1) for Eoin Barry, (58th) Ciar獺n Connolly (Loughmore-Castleiney) for Cathal Bourke, (62nd) Aaron Ryan (Se獺n Treacys) for Bryan OMara.
Abbey CBS: Aidan Griffin (ire g Annacarty), Tony Byron (Galtee Rovers), David Byron (Galtee Rovers), Brian Barlow (Golden-Kilfeacle), Shane Ryan (Galtee Rovers), Niall Heffernan (Golden-Kilfeacle), Michael McCormack (Knockavilla Kickhams), Stephen OBrien (ire g Annacarty), Kieran Breen (Knockavilla Kickhams), Nathan Murphy-Crowe (Arravale Rovers, 0-1), Riain Doody (Cappawhite, 0-7, 0-7 frees), Conal Donovan (Arravale Rovers), Conor Bradshaw (ire g Annacarty), Adam McGrath (Galtee Rovers, 0-1), Shane Neville (Lattin-Cullen)
Subs: (HT) Eoin McCormack (Knockavilla Kickhams) for Conor Bradshaw, (49th) Fergus Halligan (Arravale Rovers) for Adam McGrath.
Referee: Martin Ryan (Moyne-Templetuohy)
