Thurles CBS dispatch Ardscoil Rís with unexpected ease to book Harty Cup semi-final spot

TUS Dr. Harty Cup Quarter-Final

Thurles CBS 2-25

Ardscoil Rís 0-22

Thurles CBS finished the first half like a steam train to swat aside Ardscoil Rís of Limerick with unexpected ease in the last Dr. Harty Cup quarter-final clash in the North Campus at the University of Limerick on Monday afternoon.

Nobody would have expected the Tipperary school to have the game wrapped up by half-time in the lead-up to the clash, but that is exactly what transpired as an irresistible ten-minute spell at the end of the first period all but secured a last-four place with goals from Jack Hayes and Cormac Fitzpatrick laying low the Limerick school’s efforts.

This game was touted as the tie of the round and certainly went along those lines for most of the first-half action as the sides were tied at 0-8 apiece by the 20-minute mark, trading blows in an impressive contest.

However, the Tipperary school made mincemeat of the Ardscoil defence from the 20th minute onward, hitting 2-9 without reply in an outstanding period of play that completely dazed the Limerick school, and in the end, it was the winning of the game as Thurles CBS ran out easy winners despite taking their foot off the gas somewhat in the second half.

The scoring was underway within the first minute of the game with Eoin Brosnan firing over the first of his five points immediately. Still, it didn’t take long for Thurles to get their gander up, and they went on to hit the next four points with David Costigan, Cormac Fitzpatrick, Cillian Minogue, and Robbie Ryan all hitting the target to give them a 0-4 to 0-1 lead after five minutes.

Much of the early scores were coming from quick restarts at either end and wing-back Eoin Brosnan fired over his second point in the seventh minute, sandwiched between Patrick Kearney and Michael Collins efforts to level the game soon after and it felt like this was going to be a blow-for-blow contest throughout.

David Costigan and Michael Collins were the standout performers for the sides in that time and they were picking off points thereafter second and third points perspectively as the sides landed on eight points apiece after the 20-minute mark.

What started the Thurles onslaught was a period of intense forward pressure on the Ardscoil defence when in possession. 

Scores from Robbie Ryan and Cormac Fitzpatrick were pilfered from turnover ball to give them a two-point lead and when Jack Hayes profited from a poor first touch at the back from a defender in the 22nd minute, the Moycarkey Borris man made no mistake to finish well and send his team on their way to a game-winning flurry.

Points from play from Costigan, Fitzpatrick (2), Cillian Minogue, and Robbie Ryan soon followed and when Drom & Inch shooter Cormac Fitzpatrick intercepted a line ball close to goal, he sprinted clear on goal and buried the goal chance to the net it left the Thurles CBS men in dreamland at half-time, ahead 2-17 to 0-8.

Incredibly, the second half was all about what the final score would finish with the 15-point lead essentially terminal for Ardscoil Rís, and while they did start to pick off scores late in the final quarter to bring it back to six points at one stage, they never threatened Harry Loughnane in the goals to truly threaten the result.

The panel depth is truly magnificent for Thurles and when you can afford to leave the player-of-the-match from last year’s All-Ireland Minor Hurling final on the sideline, it is a sign of options the management team has at their disposal.

Thurles CBS now goes forward to the semi-final stage where they will face Waterford opposition in the form of De La Salle College and they will feel that this year could be theirs after powering past last year’s beaten finalists.

Scorers: Thurles CBS: Cormac Fitzpatrick (1-10, 0-7f), Jack Hayes 1-1, Cillian Minogue, David Costigan, Robbie Ryan all 0-4 each, Killian Cantwell, Keith Loughnane 0-1 each.

Ardscoil Rís: Michael Collins, Eoin Brosnan 0-5 each, Patrick Kearney (0-4, 0-2f, 0-1 65), Ian O’Brien 0-3, Jack Cosgrave 0-2, Eoin Begley, Cillian Murphy, Darragh Gleeson all 0-1 each.

Thurles CBS: Harry Loughnane (Roscrea); Toby Corbett (Upperchurch Drombane), Evan Morris (Holycross Ballycahill), Jack Lahart (Holycross Ballycahill); Killian Cantwell (Moycarkey Borris), Keith Loughnane (Thurles Sarsfields), Ryne Bargary (Boherlahan Dualla); Euan Murray (Durlas Óg), Kieran Rossiter (Thurles Sarsfields); James Butler (Sean Treacys), David Costigan (Moycarkey Borris), Cormac Fitzpatrick (Drom & Inch); Jack Hayes (Moycarkey Borris), Cillian Minogue (Thurles Sarsfields), Robbie Ryan (Holycross Ballycahill).

Subs used: Tiarnan Ryan (Holycross Ballycahill) for Minogue (37, blood sub); Tiarnan Ryan for K Loughnane (48, inj); Darragh Hickey (Emeralds) for Bargary (50); Leelan Donoghue (Durlas Óg) for Hayes (52); Zach O’Keefe (Holycross Ballycahill) for Butler (58); Ronan O’Brien (Thurles Sarsfields) for Minogue (58).

Ardscoil Rís: Darragh Jordan (Na Piarsaigh); Conor Ryan (Adare), Seán Morrissey (Dromin Athlacca), Adam Fitzsimmons (Na Piarsaigh); Eoin Brosnan (Na Piarsaigh), Darragh Gleeson (Adare), Jack Cosgrave (Ahane); Conor Conlon Ryan (Ahane), Malachy McKenna (Pallasgreen); John O’Connor (Ahane), Oisin O’Byrne (Crecora Manister), Michael Collins (Clonlara); Eoin Begley (Clonlara), Ian O’Brien (Cratloe), Patrick Kearney (Adare).

Subs used: Rian Horgan (Murroe Boher) for Fitzsimons (HT); Evan Ryan (South Liberties) for O’Byrne (HT); John O’Keefe (Murroe Boher) for Begley (50); Gavin O’Brien (Kilmallock) for Kearney (59); Cillian Murphy (Sixmilebridge) for McKenna (59).

Referee: Thomas Walsh (Waterford)