Nenagh CBS storm to an important win in a high-scoring Harty Cup encounter

Nenagh CBS 4-27

Ardscoil Ui Urmoltaigh 4-14

Nenagh CBS, with Darragh McCarthy their talisman on the field, looked sharper and more skilful as they recorded an important victory that leaves them top of their group in the Harty Cup. 

In this second round, group 2 fixture of this year’s Dr Harty Cup, Nenagh CBS finally got some space from their sticky opponents in the second half at Banteer 4G GAA field on Wednesday afternoon.

Darragh McCarthy was the star player on show and his class told on a lively pitch where the hop of the ball suited the quicker forwards in a high scoring encounter. 

Nenagh were that bit slicker in front of the posts throughout the game however the concession of goals will be a worry and they will need to tighten up at the back in future games if they are to make inroads towards the title.  

Nenagh showed no ill effects of the long trip down to Cork and were out of the blocks early building up an 0-5 to 0-3 lead. Their skilful, fast hurling allowed them to tag on the points as the half wore on however two first half goals kept the Hamilton HS in the hunt, and kept the game open as a contest. 

While Danny Quinn, Jake Hackett and Darragh McCarthy did the early running, Bandon struck the first goal approaching the 20 minute mark as a long range free struck the post and fell down perfectly to the unmarked Luke Griffin who pounced to level the game at 0-8 to 1-5. 

Michael Ryan responded almost immediately with a point while on the run down the wing for Nenagh before Bandon went down the field and won a line ball on the Nenagh 21.  With a quick glance Sean Mac an tSaoi sent the line ball across the square where Micheal Maguire was again unmarked, and he batted it past the Nenagh keeper to make it 2-5 to 0-9. 

Nenagh didn't panic. They played the more composed hurling until half time. Jake Hackett pointed after conceding the goal. Darragh McCarthy soon added another before the half forward Eoghan Doughan, struck a smashing long range point that raised the noise level in the stand. 

They went up another gear then. Star man Darragh McCarthy headed for goal again but this time he spotted a teammate in a better position so he laid off the ball for Aodhan O'Connor who fired to the net to leave Nenagh 1-13 to 2-6 up. 

The elusive corner forward struck a point again just after as Bando looked shaken going in four down despite being well in the game in the first half.

The Tipperary side went in 1-14 to 2-7 up at the break and the encouragement from coaches Donach O'Donnell and Mark Gennery drove them on to greater heights in the second half. 

From the restart they attacked and an Aodhan O’Connor goal right at the start of the second half, from a dropping ball, made it 2-14 to 2-7 immediately on the restart. 

Micheal Ryan, Darragh McCarthy and Jake Hackett quickly sensed a shift in the dynamics of the game and they pushed the game beyond the Cork side with fine strikes to send the Ormond lads 2-17 to 2-7 up.

The Cork side, to their credit, kept working hard to get something out of the game. Nenagh were rash in defending at times, and a Bandon penalty was converted by Sean Mac an tSaoi  making it 2-17 to 3-7. 

The lively Luke Griffin added a point for them before three in a row from the talented Darragh McCarthy, the pick a long range free fired over another from near his own half to leave it 2-20 to 3-8. 

The next big moment arrived courtesy of Nenagh corner forward Danny Quinn on the three quarter mark as he rifled home from close range leaving it 3-21 to 3-9 and he added a point soon after after dispossessing his marker. 

Both sides rang the changes as the game petered out but there was still a moment of brilliance to come from Darragh McCarthy, who struck a rocket to the top corner of the net with just nine minutes left. 

He placed the ball to the left of the keeper who had no chance at all. It was a goal worthy of the long drive into the Cork countryside.  

Hamilton HS, who were just up in the Harty Cup this year from a lower grade, fought back with the excellent Sean Mac an tSaoi pointing then he followed up with a fourth goal for the Cork side to leave it 4-23 to 4-13. 

Darragh McCarthy, O'Connor, Jack Mulcahy and McCarthy again made certain the game was over as a contest with a string of points for Nenagh in response. 

All in all, Nenagh CBS were far the better side however the concession of easy scores is something they will have to work on as they will be punished for lapses in concentration against the more clinical sides. 

Nenagh top the group and afterwards their manager Donagh O'Donnell said they will be back training again on Friday: "We have plenty to work on and we will look for improvements but we came here for the win so it is good to be going home with it." 

Scorers: Nenagh CBS:  Darragh McCarthy 1-12, Aodhain O'Connor 2-3, Danny Quinn 1-1, Eoghan Doughan 0-3, Jake Hackett 0-3, Michael Ryan 0-2, Austin Duff 0-2, Jack Mulcahy 0-1.

Ardscoil Ui Urmoltaigh: Sean Mac an tSaoi 2-5, Micheal Maguire 1-0, Luke Griffin 1-1, Harry O'Sullivan 0-3, Kevin Dart O'Flynn 0-1, Sean Ahern 0-1, Charlie Twomey 0-1, Niall Daly 0-1, John Buckley 0-1. 

Nenagh CBS: Simon Grace (Ballina); Conor Grace (Burgess), Andy Hoolan (Moneygall), Gavin McGrath (Kiladangan); Jack Doran (Toomevara), Cian Connolly (Nenagh Éire Óg), Liam O’Callaghan (Portroe); Ciaran Foley (Borrisokane), Jake Hackett (Toomevara); Michael Ryan (Burgess), Eoin Doughan (Moneygall), Zac Keller (Nenagh Éire Óg); Danny Quinn (Silvermines), Darragh McCarthy (Toomevara), Aodhan O’Connor (Nenagh Éire Óg).

Subs used: Austin Duff (Toomevara) for Keller (HT); Jack Mulcahy (Kilruane) for Doughan (43); Conor Cooney (Burgess) for Foley (47); Darragh Treacy (Silvermines) for Ryan (48); Brehon O'Donnell (Silvermines) for Grace (48).

Ardscoil Ui Urmoltaigh: Fionn Murphy; Farrakhan Cali, Joshua Woods, Cillian O'Mahony; Oisin Gillain, Kevin Dart O'Flynn, Donnacha O'Connell; Sean Ahern, Niall Daly; Harry O'Sullivan, Kevin Hannon, Sean Macan tSaoi; Luke Griffin, Micheal Maguire, Charlie Twomey.

Subs used: John Buckley for Twomey (36); Alex Huggard for Daly (50); Stephen Murphy for Gillian (50); Seanie Crowe for Woods (50); Donagh O'Driscoll for O'Connell (62).