HARTY CUP: Cashel Community School edged out in opener by strong Ardscoil Rís outfit

TUS Dr Harty Cup - Group 1 - Round 1

Cashel Community School 2-15

Ard Scoil Rís 2-23 

By Michael McCarthy

Ard Scoil Rís got their 2025 Dr. Harty Cup campaign off to a good start with an eight-point win over 2022 winners Cashel Community School in the excellent surrounds of Cappamore GAA. 

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The limerick side held a five-point advantage at the break and extended that to eight midways through the second half. Cashel showed great fighting spirit and while they reduced the deficit to five twice in the closing stages, they could not find the goal to put real pressure on Ard Scoil who would score the final three pints of the contest. 

Ard Scoil played with the advantage of a slight breeze in the first half but Cashel got off to the brighter start and were two points to the good through Shane Cooney (free) and Tudor Mereacre before Pallasgreen native Malachy McKenna and a John O’Keeffe free tied up the game for the Limerick side. 

McKenna has strong links to Tipperary with his grandfather Mackey McKenna playing for many years in blue and gold. Impressive centre-back Eoin Brosnan put Ard Scoil ahead for the first time on eight minutes and by fifteen minutes stretched that lead to five with a well taken Ian O’Brien goal following a blistering run through the middle from John O’Connor. 

The Limerick based side maintained that five-point advantage until William Colville stole in and flicked a ball over the goalkeeper for an important score for Cashel. Brosnan, O’Keeffe, and an excellent Jack Cosgrove score had Ard Scoil five up at the break 1-12 to 1-7. 

On the turnaround Ard Scoil immediately extended that lead to seven with points from Ian O’Brien and Cosgrove. The wide count was stacking up for Ard scoil though and with the amount of possession they had they should have been further ahead. It would be nineteen by the end of the game. 

Cooney and Conor Fogarty had scored in reply for Cashel but they were struggling to gain a foothold and further scores from Waters, Cosgrove and David O’Keeffe had the lead out to eight. Shane Cooney scored a free and when Cashel won the resulting puck-out and 2025 Tipperary County minor Senan Mackey whipped first time on the ball to the Ard Scoil net Cashel had a lifeline. 

Ian O’Brien responded though for Ard Scoil. Cashel were working hard now but just could not get scores on the board and suffered a real killer blow when John O’Keeffe scrambled a ball over the line following a good stop from the Cashel keeper Kieran O’Neill. 

The response from Cashel was excellent though and two Charlie Hall frees and a good Charlie Walsh point had the deficit down to five with seven minutes remaining. It was however as close as the West Tipp school would come and Ard Scoil powered on to an eight-point victory. 

Ard Scoil will be relieved to get off the mark in the competition but will be worried with some shot selection and conversion but a scoreline of 2-23 and 19 wides shows the dominance they had in the game without being able to put it on the board.

In Ahane’s Jack Cosgrove they had the star player and his personal haul of six from play was impressive and alongside Ian O’Briens 1-4, Ard Scoil was well set up front. Eoin Brosnan anchored his defence well along side Conor Ryan while the midfield pairing of David O’Keeffe and Conor Conlon Ryan won that particular battle. 

For Cashel Senan Mackey took the fight to Ard Scoil and Shane Cooney’s free taking was excellent throughout. An improved performance will be needed though in a group that also contains Nenagh CBS and St. Flannans of Ennis. 

Cashel Community School: Kieran O’Neill (Boherlahan Dualla), Rory O’Mahony (Fethard), Noal O’Flynn (Fethard), Kyle Cully (Cashel King Cormacs); Senan Mackey (Knockavilla Kickhams, 1-0), Briain O’Donoghue (Cashel King Cormacs),Tommy O’Connor (Cashel King Cormacs); Charlie Walsh (Fethard, 0-2), William Colville (Rosegreen, 1-0); Charlie Hall (Golden Kilfeacle, 0-3f), Shane Cooney (Clerihan, 0-7f), Cian Fitzgerald (Cashel King Cormacs); Eimhin Ryan (Cashel King Cormacs), Conor Fogarty (Boherlahan Dualla, 0-2), Tudor Mereacre (Cashel King Cormacs, 0-1). 

Subs used: Harry Fogarty (Golden Kilfeacle); Evan Buckley (Knockavilla Kickhams); James Finn (Golden Kilfeacle). 

Ard Scoil Rís: Marcus Murphy (Na Piarsaigh); Eoin Hennessy (Patrickswell), Jack O’Halloran (Sixmilebridge), Evan Ryan (South Liberties); Conor Ryan (Adare), Eoin Brosnan (Na Piarsaigh, 0-2), Adam Fitzsimons (Na Piarsaigh); David O’Keeffe (Na Piarsaigh, 0-1), Conor Conlon-Ryan (Ahane, 0-1); John O’Connor (Ahane, 0-1), Jack Cosgrove (Ahane, 0-6), Malachy McKenna (Pallasgreen, 0-1); John O’Keeffe (Murroe Boher, 1-4, 0-4f), Shane Waters (Na Piarsaigh, 0-2), Ian O’Brien (Cratloe, 1-4). 

Subs used: Gavin O’Brien (Kilmallock, 0-1); Aaron Kelly (Cratloe); Rian Horgan (Murroe Boher). 

Referee: Tom McGlinchey (Newport)

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